
tokjl&M 



* J33* 
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AMYE ROBSART. 



- 



AMYE ROBSART 



THE EARL OF LEYCESTER; 

A CRITICAL INQUIRY INTO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE VARIOUS STATEMENTS 

IN RELATION TO THE DEATH OF AMYE ROBSART, AND OE THE LIBELS 

ON THE EARL OF LEYCESTER, WITH A VINDICATION OF THE 

EARL BY HIS NEPHEW SIR PHILIP SYDNEY. 



jistoru of JUttilfoottj} Castle, 

INCLUDING 

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN TO 

QUEEN ELIZABETH BY THE EARL OF LEYCESTER, IN 1575, 

FROM THE WORKS OF ROBERT LANEHAM 

AND GEORGE GASCOIGNE; 

TOGETHER WITH 

fftemot'rs anD ©omspon&eTU* of SSfr 2£ofort Bu&lep, 
Son of tfje 3Earl of Hegreatn:. 



GEORGE ADLAKD, 

AUTHOR OF ' THE SUTTON-DUDLEYS OF ENGLAND,' ETC. 





LONDOX : 
JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 

36. SOHO SQUARE. 
MDCCCLXX. 

T 



,-h 



t^ 



TO T H E 



H0N ble FREDERICK WALPOLE, M.P., 



RAINTHORPE HALL, NORFOLK, 

A DESCENDANT OF THE EOBSAET FAMILY AND POSSESSOE OF 
AMTE EOBSAET' S B I E T H-P 1 A C E, 

THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED 
BY 

THE A UTHOR. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



AMYE EOBSAET. 

PAGE 

Introductory Chapter. — Mr. Pettigrew's quotation from 
Dryden. — False estimate of the Character of Dudley, 
Varney, and others. — Sir "Walter Scott's departure from 
historical truth in his Romance of " Kenil worth ;" — some 
particulars in relation to same. — Mrs. Muhlbach on 
Historical Romance "Writing. — Mystery connected with 
the Death of Amye Robsart. — Statements in " Leyces- 
ter's Commonwealth " copied by subsequent writers. — 
Coroner's Inquest, and discovery of the Correspondence 
in reference thereto. — Queen Elizabeth's Proclamation 
and Sir Philip Sydney's Defence of the Earl of Leyces- 
ter. — Character of Sir Richard Varney. — Original Let- 
ters in reference to Kenilworth and Sir Robert Dudley. 
— Yon Raumer's Sketch of the Life of the Earl of 
Leycester . . . . . i to xi 

Robsart Family, some Account of . . . .1 

Sedistern. — Sir John Robsart, Lord of the Manor. — Eliza- 
beth his "Wife, Daughter of John Scott, of Camberwell ; 
Amye, their Daughter. — Elizabeth Scott, previously 
married to Roger Appleyard, of Stanfield Hall, Norfolk. 
— Sedistern descended to the "Walpoles Earls of Orford 5 

Scott of Camberwell, Pedigree of. — Some Account of the 

Family ....... 8 

Appleyard oe Brakekashe, some Account of. — Pedigree 
showing the connection of the Appleyard Family with 
Amye Robsart . . . . . .10 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Staneield Hall, Birthplace of Ainye Robsart ; on her 
Death in possession of her Half-brother, John Apple- 
yard, afterwards sold to James Altham, Baron of the 
Exchequer, and then to Edward Flowerdew 

Rainthorpe Hall, formerly in possession of the Appleyards, 
now of Hon. Frederick Walpole, M.P. for Norfolk, 
brother of the Earl of Orford 

Marriage of Amte Robsart with Lord Robert Dudley, at 
Sheen, now Richmond, in the presence of Edward VI 

Letter of Lord Robert Dudley to John Elowerdew 

Flitcham, in the Hollis Family, afterwards in that of 
Flowerdew ..... 

Flowerdew, Pedigree of 

Hats, in possession of the Scotts of Halden ; purchased by 
the Right Hon. William Pitt, afterwards created Earl 
of Chatham ..... 

Scotts oe Halden ..... 

Letter of Amye Dudley to John Flowerdew 

Hydes oe Denchworth, short Account of . 

Clmnor Place, Description of 

Ballad, by Mickle .... 

Amye Dudley's Death at Cumnor . 

Correspondence between Lord Robert Dudley and 

his Cousin Blount on the Death of Amye Dudley, and 
Commentary on same by Mr. Bartlett . 

Examination of the various Statements made by His- 
torians on the Death of Amye Dudley . 

Leycester's Commonwealth ' and Ashmole's State- 



ment compared 

Funeral of, from the Dugdale MSS. in the Ashmo- 

lean Collection ...... 

Lord Robert Dudley, Vindication of, by the Queen, in 
answer to Throckmorton .... 

Vindication by the Privy Council 

' Leycester's Commonwealth' and Ashmole's County His- 
tory, — False Statements in 



12 

15 

16 

ib. 

18 
19 



20 
21 
ib. 

22 
24 
26 
30 



ib. 
43 

47 
52 

55 

56 

58 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Leycester's ' Commonwealth,' Answer to, and Vindication 

of the Earl, by Sir Philip Sydney . . .65 

Parsons or Persons, reputed Author of the ' Common- 
wealth ' . . . . . . .77 

Proceedings against, by the Privy Council . . 78 

Bttrghley (Lord), Slanderous Reports against him . 82 

Bliss (Dr.), MS. Copy of the ' Ghost/ and Supplement to 

same, having reference to the Death of the Earl . 84 

Sir Richard Yarney or Yerney, — Particulars in reference 

to . . ... . . .85 

Gran ci son of the Kenilworth Yarney, married to the 

Sister and sole Heir of the first Lord Broke . . 88 

Short Pedigree of the Eamily of Yerney or Yarney . 89 

Baron Willouohby de Broke, Short Pedigree showing the 

Connexion of the Yerney Family therewith . . 90 

Leycester's Letters to Lord Burghley in reference to the 

Guardianship of " Young Yarney " . . .92 

Anthony Forster, of Cumnor Place, reference to . .96 

HISTORY OF KENILWORTH CASTLE . 97 

Sir William Dtfgdale's Account from the Earliest Period, 
101.— Round Table, 103. — In possession of John de Somery, 
Baron of Dudley, 103. — In that of Sir John Dudley (Duke 
of Northumberland), 104.— Granted to Robert Dudley, Fifth 
Son of the Duke, 106.— Descended by Will to Sir Robert 
Dudley, Son of the Earl, 107. — Frustrated in obtaining his 
Father's Possessions, left England for Italy, 107. — Kenil- 
worth sold to Prince Henry, 107. — Afterwards descended to 
Prince Charles (Charles I), 108.— On the Death of the 
latter Oliver Cromwell took possession, 108. — At the Resto- 
ration it reverted to the Monmouth Family, afterwards to 
Laurence Lord Hyde, created Baron Kenilworth and Earl of 
Rochester, 108. — In possession of the Clarendon Family, 
108. — Description of the Buildings and Grounds, by Camden 
and by Dugdale, 109. — Description by Leland the Anti- 
quary, 111. — Remarks on the Survey made by the Officers 
under James I, by Dugdale, 111. — Description by Bishop 
Hurd, 113 ; by Sir Walter Scott, 115. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Laneham, Eobert, short Account of 117 

Letter describing the splendid Entertainment given to Queen 

Elizabeth by the Earl of Leycester in 1575 . 121 to 168 
Gascoyne's Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth . 169 to 220 
Kenilworth Castle, Correspondence in reference to, — 

after the Death of the Earl of Leycester . 221 to 240 
Inventory of the Plate, Household Furniture, &c, 

taken after the Death of the Earl, in 1588 . 241 to 268 
Kenilworth Castle, Pictures at . . . . 269 
Valuation of the Hangings 'and Carpets . 270 to 273 



SIE EOBEET DUDLEY, Son of the Earl of Leycester. 

His Birth and Parentage . ... . . 279 

Life of Sir Eobert Dudley ..... 280 

Letter to Arthur Atye, his Father's Secretary . . 285 

A Proposition to secure the State and bridle the Imperti- 
nency of Parliaments, 291. — Second Part, " Means to 
Increase His Majesty's Eevenues," 296.-— Correspond- 
ence in reference to same .... 299 

Proposition for His Highness Henry Prince of Wales, as 

to the keeping up of the Navy . . . .296 

His Invention of a Ship of Strange Force, 304. — Corre- 
spondence with Sir David Foulis in reference to same . 307 
Sir Thomas Chaloner, Letter to Sir Eobert Dudley, 311. 
— Particulars of the Sale of Kenilworth to Prince 
Henry . . . . . . .313 

Star Chamber Inquiry, in 1629, as to the Propositions 
submitted by Sir Eobert Dudley in 1612,— 315.— Pro- 
ceedings in the Star Chamber, in 1630, in reference to 
same, 318, — Proceedings stopped, and Defendants dis- 
charged, on the occasion of the Birth of Charles, Prince 
of Wales, afterwards Charles II . . .319 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 

PAGE 

Created a Duchess by Charles I. — Succeeded in part to 
the Property left to Sir Eobert Dudley under the Earl 
ofLeycester's Will . . . . .323 

Hospital of St. Giles in the Eields, granted by Henry 

VIII to the Grandfather of Duchess Dudley's Husband 324 

Duchess Dudley. — Her Death in 1669. — Description of 

her Benefactions to St. Giles's Church and Parish . 326 

Her Funeral, described by Sir William Dugdale . 331 

APPENDIX. 

John Apple yard, various Orders from the Privy Council in 

reference to, 1553 to 1574 . . . .337 

Amye Dudley's Visit to Lord Robert in the Tower . 338 

Sir John Robs art's "Will, from the Norwich Register . 339 
Sedistern, in possession of Lord Robert in 1554 . . ib. 

Staneield Hall. — Notice of Sir James Altham . . 340 

Rainthorp Hall, in possession of Hon. Frederick Walpole ib. 
Cousin Blount. — Who was Cousin Thomas Blount ? . ib. 

Edmund Lodge. — Addition to Authors cited . . 341 

Mrs. Hyde, a Connection of the Family . . . ib. 

Verney Family, some particulars . ib. 

Dictum de Kenilworth, particulars of . . 342 

Kenilworth. — Attendance on occasion of the Queen's 

Visit . . . . . . . ib. 

Marriage of Lady Essex at Kenilworth Castle . . ib. 

Ground Plan oe Kenilworth Castle at the time of the 

Queen's Visit in 1575 . . . . . ib. 

Rooms of State. — The Splendid Hall and Chimney- 

Piece, description of . . . . 343 

Wood's 'Athene Oxoniensis,' as to Sir Robert Dudley's 

Legitimacy . . . . . . 344 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Old Staneield Hall {front and bach view), the birthplace of Amte 
Robsaet. From a drawing contributed by the Hon. Mrs. Walpole, 
of Rainthorpe Hall, Norfolk .... {Face p. 1 

Kenilworth Castle, in Ruins .... {Face p. 101 

Portrait of Robert Dudley, Earl oe Letcester . -, 

Ground Plan of Kenilworth Castle in 1575, at the time of V [Face p. 106 
the Kenilworth Festivities ... -* 

Kenilworth Castle, Ruins of the Great Hall, Presence Chamber, 

and Oriel Window ..... [Face p. Ill 

The Porch or Entrance to the Gate-House . . -, 

The Letcester Chimney- Piece, removed from the Great I {Face p. 112 
Hall to the Gate-House ... - 1 

Portrait of Sir Robert Dudley, Son of the Earl of Leycester. From a 
Miniature by Nicholas Hilliard, in the possession of Lord De L'Isle 
and Dudley, at Penshurst, in Kent. Engraved by J. Brown, from a 
drawing the exact size of the original by G. P. Harding . [Face p. 276 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



" He who unfolds to his fellow-men one single truth that has heretofore 
laid hidden, has not lived in vain." — Totjlmin Smith. 

Me. Pettigrew, in his inquiry into the particulars connected 
with the death of Arrive Eobsart, 1 thus aptly quotes from Dryden : 
— " We find but few historians, of all ages, who have been diligent 
enough in their search for truth ; it is their common method to 
take on trust what they distribute to the public, by which means 
a falsehood once received from a famed writer becomes traditional 
to posterity." 

It is the false estimate of the character of Lord Sobert Dudley, 
of Sir Eichard Tarney, and others, and the doubtful statements 
as to the cause of the death of Amye Eobsart, that have led to 
the present investigation. 

Unfortunately for the admirers of Sir Walter Scott's romance 
of ' Kenilworth,' the historical interest in that work is entirely 
marred by the fact that the leading incidents, in that otherwise 
interesting novel, are at variance with historical truth. 

Amye Eobsart never was Countess of Leycester, inasmuch as 
her husband was not created an Earl till three years after her 

1 'Inquiry read at the Congress of the British Archseological Association, 
held at Newbury in 1859, being a refutation of the calumnies charged against 
Sir Robert Dudley, K.G., Anthony Forster, and otbers.' 8vo. London, J. 
Russell Smith, 1859. 

b 






11 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

death, nor did she appear at the Kenilworth revels, for the reason 
that that splendid castle was not possessed by her husband till 
he became an earl, and the Kenilworth revels did not take place 
till fifteen years after her death. Nor was her marriage with 
Lord Robert Dudley kept secret, as related by Scott; on the 
contrary, her marriage was publicly solemnized in the presence of 
the youthful king Edward VI, and the incidents connected with 
the event were noted down by him in his diary, the original of 
which, among other numerous relics of the past, is to be found 
stored in the manuscript department of the British Museum. 

It is much to be regretted that Sir "Walter Scott should, in 
professing to write a historical romance, have so seriously per- 
verted historical facts. If, as probably was the case, he conceived 
the idea that a secret marriage would add to the interest of his 
work, he might have chosen an actual, instead of a supposed, secret 
marriage, as the former did exist at the period of Elizabeth's visit 
to Kenilworth, 

In 1573, thirteen years after the death of Lady Amye Dudley, 
and two years previous to the Kenilworth revels, Leycester had 
privately married Douglas Howard, Lady Sheffield, which mar- 
riage was kept a profound secret. In 1574 a son was born as the 
fruit of that marriage, and in the year following (1575) Elizabeth 
made her celebrated visit to Kenilworth. This, therefore, might 
have formed a real and legitimate plea for Sir Walter to have 
worked up his secret marriage, without sacrificing to the object 
he had in view the memory of poor Amye, who had been in her 
grave for fifteen years. 

A celebrated German authoress of the' present day thus writes 
as to the importance of adhering to historical truth in compiling 
historical romances : — " It is of very little consequence whether 
the personages of the historical romance actually spoke the words, 
or performed the acts, attributed to them, it is only necessary 
that those words and deeds should be in accordance with the 
spirit and character of such historical personages, and that the 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Ill 

writer should not attribute to them what they could not have 
spoken or done. In historical romance, when circumstances or 
events are presented in accordance with historical tradition ; 
when the characters are naturally described, they bear with them 
their own justification, and historical romance has need of no 
further defence. 

" Historical romance should be nothing but an illustration of 
history. If the drawing, grouping, colouring, and style of such 
an illustration of any given historical epoch is admitted to be 
true, then the illustration rises to the elevation of works of art, 
worthy of a place beside the historical picture, and as equally 
useful." 1 

"While adopting the above critical remarks, the writer would 
not be supposed to be insensible to the great charm evinced in 
Scott's delightful romance of ' Kenil worth '■ — the effect of which 
cannot be better portrayed than in the words of Dr. Beattie : 

" The romance of ' Kenilworth,' it is probable, has brought 
within the last [forty] years more pilgrims to this town and 
neighbourhood — pilgrims of the highest rank — than ever resorted 
to its ancient shrine of the virgin, more knights and dames than 
ever figured in its tilts and tournaments." 2 

It is, perhaps, not too much to say that the mystery connected 
with the death of Amye Eobsart will probably never be cleared 
up. Conjectures only may be started. The coroner's inquest, 
that was assembled immediately after her decease, failed to elicit 
mere than that she met with an untimely death, by some " mis- 
chaunce ;" further, that inquest did not succeed in unravelling the 
mystery, though every effort appears to have been then made. 
There was no undue haste, nor does there appear to have been 
any undue influence exercised to bias or to thwart the investi- 
gation. 



Mrs. Muhlbach in her Introduction to "Henry VIII, and Catherine Parr." 
Dr. Beattic's ' Castles of England.' Imperial 8vo, Lond., 18J2. 



IV INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

Till within a few years past we have been left in entire ig- 
norance on the subject, nothing but the scurrilous reports pro- 
mulgated by the most "virulent and pestilent book " ever written, 
under the title of ' Leycester's Commonwealth,' supplying all the 
information, in the shape of atrocious falsehoods, that authors 
and writers have subsequently availed themselves of so freely in 
their attacks on the character of Leycester. "Written by the 
noted Jesuit Parsons, who, in connection with the still more 
notorious Edward Campion, was constantly prowling about in 
search of means to subvert the Protestant faith, and to create all 
the mischief he could in the endeavour to restore the powers that 
had been driven out. Parsons's book was not published till 
twenty-four years after the occurrences took place, which it so 
minutely describes, fresh as if they had occurred within the day 
or year of its publication. 

The writers who have since taken up the subject have all fol- 
lowed in the same path, reiterating, under different phases, the 
same scurrilous untruths, only varying them under different dis- 
guises—first, "it is stated," "it is related;" then as "secret 
memoirs," all derived from the same source ; and in their zeal to 
establish the apparent truth of their falsehoods, multiplying the 
number of authorities in justification of their statements, quoting, 
for instance, John Aubrey, as one of their authorities, who, it 
would be difficult for them to find, had ever written a line on the 
subject; the principal works by which that author is known, 
being the ' History of Wiltshire,' and the ' Natural History of the 
County of Surrey.' 

Much stress has been laid by previous writers on the narrative 
given in Ashmole's * History of Berkshire' as an authority worthy 
of belief. Wow when we consider that that statement was not 
made till a century after the occurrences took place, and that no 
authority whatever is given by Ashmole, we should at least pause 
before we give credence to his detail. In the present work will 
be found (see pages 47 to 51) a comparative detail of the state- 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. V 

ments given by Ashmole, and those given in Leycester's Common- 
wealth ; the candid reader cannot fail to discover that the former 
is taken (in many instances verbatim) from the libellous publica- 
tion of Parsons. 

"Writers who have preceded us attach an importance to Ash- 
mole's narrative which we think, on very little reflection, is with- 
out justification. The fact that no authority whatever is given 
by him, ought naturally to create a doubt ; that doubt is further 
increased by the plagiarism already referred to. 

Mr. Pettigeew, in his i Inquiry/ says : " Every production 
issuing from the pen of Elias Ashmole and "Walter Scott must be 
deemed entitled to our best consideration, and any attempt to 
invalidate what has been recorded on their authority, must be 
regarded worthy of the most intimate scrutiny." 

"With regard to Sir "Walter Scott, his total perversion of 
historical facts must certainly condemn his authority for the 
statements given. We question whether Ashmole would him- 
self have ventured to compromise his reputation by inserting 
such a statement in his County history, a work in which, of all 
others, we expect to find nothing but what can be substantiated 
from known or reputable authority. Ashmole's history was not 
published during his lifetime. That scurrilous statement in 
reference to the death of Amye Robsart we may well conceive 
may have been found among his " Collections " for the County 
history, and published by those who undertook the work after his 
death. 

The finding of such a statement among Ashmole's papers, we 
conceive was the sole authority for its publication. 

To show the mischief arising from the promulgation of such 
false statements, Mr. Pettigrew alludes to a recent writer in the 
' Quarterly Eeview ' (vol. 106, p. 211), in an article expressly 
on Berkshire, in which the writer says: — "The story of the 
murder of the poor young Countess, as told in Kenilivorth, is, 
for the most part, faithful;" (!) and this in the face of Amye 



VI INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

Eobsart having been in her grave fifteen years previous to the 
occurrences so graphically described by Scott. Poor Amye, who 
probably had never even been at Kenilworth Castle during her 
life. 

The writer of that article also alludes to the statement of the 
Countess's (!) father having caused the body of his daughter to 
be taken up, and the coroner to sit upon it. Sir John Eobsart, 
her father, died several years previous to the death of his 
daughter (!). 

We had written thus far when, having occasion to refer to 
Ltsons's History of Berkshire, in the Magna Britannia, we 
found the following, in corroboration of what we had premised : — 

" Elias Ashmole, the Herald and Antiquary, whose Collections 
for this county have been published since his decease. 

" The work called ' Ashmole's Antiquities oe Berkshire ' is 
improperly so termed. It was published after his death, and has 
no other pretension to being called by his name than that it consists 
chiefly of church notes copied from such as were collected by that 
industrious herald and antiquary, and by him deposited in the 
Heralds' College. The scanty information which it contains of 
other matters was collected by the Editor.'''' l 

Wow, after this, who will venture to quote either Ashmole or 
Scott as authority for the statements set forth and copied by 
writer after writer ? "What remains then to guide us in our in- 
vestigations after the truth ? Certainly not the scurrilous publica- 
tion of Parsons. 

The only evidence that has been handed down to us, upon 
which any reliance can be placed, is the correspondence that took 

1 ' Magna Britannia, Berkshire,' p. 216. 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Vll 

place immediately after the death of Ainye Dudley, between Lord 
Robert Dudley and his cousin Blount, in reference to the coroner's 
inquest that was summoned to inquire into the cause of her 
death. For this correspondence we are indebted to George 
Lillie Craik, who, in his 'Romance .of the Peerage, 5 has given us 
these letters, which he discovered in the Pepysian Library at 
Oxford, where a contemporary copy of the correspondence has 
been preserved. Lord Braybrooke, also, about the same time, 
made the discovery of these letters, and he has printed them in 
the Appendix to his edition of 'Pepys's Diary and Correspondence.' 
They may also be found in ' Bartlett's History of Cumnor Place.' 
These letters are inserted in the present work, and, though they 
open to us no light as to the immediate cause of Amye's death, 
they give us all the information we are likely to obtain. They 
serve to evince, however, on the part of Leycester, but little regret 
at the loss he had sustained, and tend to show that he was only 
tenacious how far the occurrence might lead to suspicion, and 
throw obloquy on himself by implication. Instead of going im- 
mediately to Cumnor to inquire into the circumstances connected 
with her death, he coolly writes to his Cousin Blount, and requests 
him to make the investigation. Instead of paying the least 
regard to her remains by attending the funeral, he deputes that 
duty to others, and contents himself at the Court in attendance 
upon the queen. Pirst he writes from "Windsor, the day following 
the death of his wife ; three days afterwards from Kew, where he 
had a mansion, given to him by the queen, and which was pro- 
bably his domicile, while his wife was staying at Cumnor under 
the charge or care of Sir Anthony Poster. That she had been 
living in great distress of mind may be inferred from the tenor 
of her letter to Mr. Plowerdew, the only letter of hers known to 
have been preserved. 

It is a somewhat singular coincidence that the opinion formed 
by the writer (as expressed on page 63 of this work), as to the 
immediate cause of the death of Amve Robsart, will be found to 



Vlll INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

coincide with that given by Mr. Pettigrew in his ' Inquiry.' It 
may be as well here to state that the writer had committed that 
opinion to paper several years before Mr. Pettigrew's publication ; 
the investigation made by the writer having occurred at least ten 
years previous thereto. It is gratifying, however, to find, after 
the able and thorough research on the subject made by Mr. 
Pettigrew, that the views entertained by the writer were not at 
all singular in this respect. 

"With this inquiry into the evidences before us, is given Queen 
Elizabeth's proclamation, vindicating Leycester from the aspersions 
cast upon him by Parsons' slanderous publication ; and also Sir 
Philip Sydney's defence of his uncle — the latter, it is believed, 
having never been printed, except in the ' Sydney Papers,' edited 
by Collins, the author of the ' Peerage.' These documents cannot 
fail to be of interest. 

The reader will also find some interesting facts connected with 
Amye Eobsart's family — apparently overlooked by previous 
writers on this subject, and certainly not hitherto published — 
which have been discovered by the writer in a Pedigree in one of 
the Heralds' Visitations at the College of Arms, London. 

Another topic, immediately connected with the main subject, 
and respecting which no little misapprehension has long pre- 
vailed, namely, the character of Sib Eichaed Vabney, or, 
more correctly, Veekey, will likewise appear (it is thought) in 
a new and very different aspect, as illustrated in the following 
pages. 

Moreover, not a few striking incidents and illustrations in 
regard to the history of Kenilworth Castle, subsequent to the 
Earl of Leycester' s death, together with original letters never 
before given to the public, connected with Leycester's son, Sir 
Eobert Dudley, have also been embodied in the present work, 
together with a biographical sketch of Sir Eobert Dudley and of 
his second wife, Alice Leigh, who was created Duchess Dudley by 
Charles I. 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. IX 

A very interesting volume in royal quarto entitled 'Kenil- 
woeth Illustrated ; or, the History of the Castle, Priory, and 
Church of Kenil worth,' appeared in 1821, from the press of 
Charles Whittingham, of Chiswick, in which were included 
" Laneham's Letter," and " Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures." Nu- 
merous engravings embellished the volume in the first style of 
art of that period. 

In the same year a republication of Laneham and Gascoigne 
appeared, in post octavo, published by J. H. Burn, of London. 

In 1825 appeared 'Kenilworth Festivities,' comprising 
"Laneham's Description of the Pageantry," and " Gascoigne's 
Princely Pleasures," post octavo, published by Merridew, Coventry, 
with a frontispiece representing Elizabeth's entry into the castle. 
This volume is composed of the two tracts reprinted by Burn in 
1821, bound together, with new title-page and frontispiece. 

In 1859 appeared an 8vo pamphlet, ' The Military Archi- 
tecture oe the Middle Ages, as illustrated by Ketsil- 
worth, Warwick, and Maxtoke Castles. By Geo. T. 
Robinson, Architect.' 

' Kenilworth Bueeet,' a pamphlet in extra super-royal quarto, 
appeared in 1851, descriptive of elaborately carved relievos of a 
Buffet, in Oak, manufactured by Cookes and Sons, of Warwick, 
from an ancient oak, which formerly stood on the grounds of 
Kenilworth. On the centre panel is represented Queen Eliza- 
beth's entry into Kenilworth Castle ; the discovery by the queen 
of Amy e Robsart taking shelter in an alcove on the grounds of 
Kenilworth ; and the queen reproaching Leycester for his du- 
plicity towards her in keeping secret his marriage with Amye on 
the panel of the door on either side — the subjects taken from 
Scott's romance of l Kenilworth,' forming a striking illustration 
of the ill effects produced by the perversion of historical truth — 
perpetuating the historical untruths contained in that work — and 
misleading the public mind in what might otherwise have proved 
a highly interesting illustration of history. Four richly carved 



X INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

statuettes, representing Sir Philip Sydney, Sir "Walter Raleigh, 
Shakspeare, and Sir Francis Drake, also embellished the work. 
As a work of art great credit is due to the artists employed, as 
well as to Messrs. Cookes and Sons, of Warwick, from whom the 
work originated. It was exhibited in the Great Exhibition of 
1851 in London, and is now preserved in Warwick Castle, it 
having been purchased by the inhabitants of the Town and 
County of Warwick, and presented to the Lord Brooke (now 
Earl of Warwick) on his marriage. 

A short sketch of Eobert Dudley, Earl of Leycester, from the 
pen of a foreign writer, may form a not inappropriate conclusion 
of these preliminary remarks. 

" Robert Dudley, born in 1533, the fifth son of the Duke of 
Northumberland, who was executed, and grandson of Dudley, 
who, at the accession of Henry VIII, was accused and put to 
death as an unfaithful minister of finance, had rendered Eliza- 
beth much service during the reign of Mary, and thereby, perhaps, 
laid the foundation for his future elevation. At this time, when 
Elizabeth created him Earl of Leicester, he was in the prime of 
life, was very handsome, danced admirably, and was considered as 
a model of a perfect courtier. Even his adversaries also confess 
that he was courageous in danger, condescending to inferiors, 
courteous to his rivals, a patron of learning, generous on all 
occasions, and very skilful in perceiving and taking advantage of 
favorable opportunities. But if this is the case, opportunities of 
obtaining the hand of Elizabeth cannot have been offered him ; 
and indeed, notwithstanding he was so high in her favour, she 
always kept him at a due distance, and repeatedly said in private 
to her most confidential minister, Cecil, " That she would never 
give her hand to a subject." But as Leicester was in many 
respects inferior to other men whom Elizabeth had elevated, 
many persons believed (when meaner motives, and thoughts of 
marriage were rejected) in the influence of the stars, and others, 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. XI 

in their anger at the favour shown to Leicester, accused him of 
being a hypocrite, arrogant, selfish, immoral, indifferent to the 
choice of means to attain his ends, nay, they affirmed, that in 
the hope to obtain the hand of Elizabeth he had caused the death 
of his own wife, and perhaps of many other persons. This censure 
of the envied favourite (like praise in similar cases) is doubtless 
exaggerated, and it is difficult to find the just medium. Leicester 
certainly never understood how to gain public opinion ; though 
he had much penetration and ability in some points, he wanted 
the simple dignity of his opponent Sussex; and still more the 
superior understanding of Cecil ; his way of life did not entirely 
coincide with the strict puritanical principles which he professed. 
But shall Elizabeth be so severely blamed for desiring, besides 
the great statesman whom she honoured, to have an amiable and 
ccomplished courtier about her? The opinion which she ex- 
pressed to the French Ambassador Castelnau, "That Leicester 
was the most virtuous and perfect man that she knew," may be 
founded in error, but she added, in the consciousness of her 
dignity, "Yet she would never marry him." x 

1 Von Raumer. ' Political History of England during the 16th and 17th 
Centuries,' translated by Lloyd. 8vo, Lond., 1837, vol. i, pp. 194-6. 



SOME ACCOUNT 



OF THE 



ROBSART FAMILY. 



"The father of Sir John Robsart, or Robsert, Knight 
Baronet and K.Gr. (who was famed for his valour and conduct 
in several actions in France in the reigns of Hen. IV. V. 
VI., and who was great-grandfather to Amie Robsart), was 
Robert, Baron of Cannon, in Heinalt, on which account he 
is mentioned in our historians by the name of Cannon Rob- 
sart, and was the son of John Robsart, who, in 14 Edw. III., 
was one of those expert captains that (with Richard Verchin, 
Lord High Seneschal of Heinalt) surprised John, Duke of 
Normandy, eldest son of King Philip of France, in his 
quarters at Montais, on the river Selle. The Lord Robert 
Robsart was likewise very serviceable to the English nation ; 
and when King Edward lay at the siege of Rheims, a.d. 1359, 
signalised himself in taking the castle of Commercy, and the 
defeat of the Lord Gomeignes, being then governor of the 
young Earl of Coucy, and manager of his lands. He also 
behaved himself with great bravery and conduct in several 
other actions in that reign ; and, accompanying the Duke of 
Lancaster and divers of the English nobility into France, in 
47 Edw. III., landed with them at Calais; and, continuing 
in our service, took divers castles in Spain, in 5 Rich. II. 

" He left issue three sons — John, Lewis, 1 and Theodorick 
(or Terrey as we write the name) — who all engaged in the 
English service, and were commanders of the greatest note 

1 Lodowicus, in the ' Inquisitiones post mortem.' 



6 AM YE ROBS ART. 

in their time ; but I shall confine myself to the actions of 
John, the eldest son. 1 

" The said Sir John Robsart distinguished himself in the 
wars with the Saracens in the reign of Richard II., and was 
knighted before the reign of Hen. IV., which king, out of his 
especial grace, and for the good services of his beloved and 
faithful knight, Sir John Robsart, grants to him, for term of 
his life, j§100 per annum out of his exchequer, by letters 
patent dated 17th November, 1399 ; and Hen. V., in considera- 
tion of his good services, confirms to him the said annuity, by 
letters patent dated at Westminster, 12th June, 1413. He 
attended on Hen. V. at his first landing in France, and after 
being at the siege of Caen, in Normandy (as was also his 
brother Sir Lewis Robsart), he became one of the principal 
commanders under the Duke of Gloucester, the king's 
brother, who in 5 Hen. V. especially appointed him to treat 
with the governors of the castles of Vire, Hambye, St. Lo., 
and Clarenton, for the surrender thereof, which in that year 
were at several times delivered to him. In 6 Hen. V. he was 
also specially appointed by the said duke to treat with the 
governor of Pont Down, as also with the governor, knights, 
esquires, burgesses, and inhabitants of Chierburgh, and with 
Mons. Robert de Frevile, Knight, governor of the castle of 
St. Saviour le Visconte; all which places being surrendered 
by agreement made with him, he was constituted governor of 
the castle of St. Saviour le Visconte, and on the decease of 
the Duke of Holland was elected a Knight Companion of 
the most noble Order of the Garter, but, continuing abroad, 
was installed at Windsor by his proxy, Sir Thomas Bar, 
17 February, 1418-19. At the siege of Rohan he was one 
of the commissioners assigned by the king to confer with the 
French commissioners about the surrender of that city ; and 
when eight days had been spent without concluding on one 
article, which induced the English commissioners to break 
off the treaty, and thereupon the townsmen, mutinying, had 
forced the magistrates to alter their opinions, they came to 

1 For the authorities whence these statements are taken, the reader is 
referred to Collins's ' Peerage,' hy Sir Egerton Brydges, vol. v, pp. 644, &c. 



AMYE ROBSART. 3 

the tent of Sir John Robsart, desiring him to move the king 
that the truce might be prolonged for four days, which being 
assented to, they surrendered that city on articles agreed on 
by the said Sir John Robsart, the Earls of Warwick, Salis- 
bury, and others. In 7 Hen. V. he had, in recompense of 
his services, a grant of the castle and lordships of St. Saviour 
le Visconte, Neahou and Danvers. In 8 Hen. V. he was 
appointed, with the Duke of Exeter and others of the greatest 
note, to confer with the French king at Troys concerning 
the title of King Henry to the crown of France, and his mar- 
riage with the Lady Catharine, daughter of the said king. 
And when it was concluded on that King Henry should come 
to Troys and marry the said Lady Catharine, and the French 
king should make him heir of his realm, crown, and dignity, 
after his decease, Sir John Robsart was left to give his at- 
tendance on the said princess till the King of England should 
come to Troys to celebrate his nuptials. In 9 Hen. V. he 
returned with the king and his queen to England, and was 
present with his majesty in a chapter of the Garter held at 
Windsor on May 23rd, but being absent in a chapter held in 
the next ensuing year, his excuse was allowed by being 
abroad in the wars. On the death of his royal master he 
attended on his corpse into England, and, being Keeper of 
the Seal of the Order of the Garter, was present at the feast 
of St. George, held at Windsor in 1 Hen. VI., but returned 
to France the same year, and, being a knight banneret as 
well as a Knight of the Garter, was retained, with his brother, 
Sir Terrey Robsart, Captain of Hamby, to serve the regent, 
John, Duke of Bedford, in that kingdom, who made him 
Captain of Candebeck, and (after the death of his brother, 
Sir Terrey) of St. Saviour de Ive, in Normandy. In 7 Hen. 
VI. he was with the king in Normandy. In the eighth year 
of that king the Duke of Bedford sent the Earl of Hunting- 
don and this Sir John Robsart to the assistance of the Duke 
of Burgundy, then besieging Compeigne, who (as my author 
observes) were two as expert in all warlike affairs as valiant 
in all bold attempts ; and they were so active in carrying on 
the siege that the gaining of the town in a short time was not 



4 AMYE ROBSART. 

doubted of; but the death of Philip, Duke of Brabant, hap- 
pening in the interval, occasioned the Duke of Burgundy to 
leave the siege and the command to Lord John of Luxem- 
burgh, who marched off when the town was reduced to 
despair, without the consent of the English commanders. 

"This Sir John Robsart, being born in Heinalt, was 
naturalised in the second year of King Henry VI. ; and in 
the preamble to the patent it is recited, ' That the King, in 
consideration of the long and faithful services of his beloved 
and faithful Sir John Robbessart, Knt., to his dear father and 
grandfather, and also because he did homage to his said 
father, with the advice and assent of the Lords Spiritual and 
Temporal and the Commons of England in Parliament, 
grants to the said that he should be made a native of this 
kingdom/ &c. On the death of Sir Lewis [or Lodowicus], 
Robsart, Knight of the Garter, and* Lord Bourchier, who 
departed this life on Monday before the feast of St. Andrew, 
in 9 Hen. VI., he was found his brother and heir, and of the 
age of forty-one years ; but Sir Lewis enjoying that barony 
only in right of his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir to 
Bartholomew, Lord Bourchier, this Sir John Robsart had 
not summons to Parliament among the barons, as his brother 
had ; but, in 7 Hen. V. he had the baronies of St. Saviour le 
Visconte and Neahou, in Normandy. In 17 Hen. VI. he had 
a renewal of the grant of £100 per ann. made to him by 
Hen. IV., as also of £60 per ann. out of the castle, forest, 
and lordship of Rockingham, granted him by Hen. V., with 
remainder to John, his son, for life ; and deceasing in 
29 Hen. VI., was buried in St. Francis's Chapel, in the Grey- 
Fryers, London, now called Christ-Church, where a raised 
tomb was erected to his memory, with his effigies in the 
livery of the Garter, and this inscription : 

"Hie jacet Strenuus Vir. Dom. Johannes Robsard, 
Valens Miles in Armis, qui obii 24 die Decembris, a.d. 
1450." 



AMYE ROBSART. 



SEDISTERN, SIDERSTERN, OR SYDERSTERN. 

" Sir John Robsert, second son of Sir Terry, was lord 
of the manor of Sedistern, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, in 
the 1st of Edward VI. I find that this John Robsert, called 
late of "Windham, in Norfolk, Esq., alias of Stanfield, in the 
parish of Wymondham, to have a pardon from the said king, 
by the advice of Edward, Duke of Somerset, the Protector, 
and the Council, for all treasons, insurrections, rebellions, 
murders, felonies, before the 20th of January in the first 
year of that king. Witness the King at Westminster, the 
fifth day of May, in his first year. 

" Soon after this he died, leaving by Elizabeth his wife, 
daughter of John Scot, of Camberwell, in Surrey, a daughter 
and heir, Anne. 1 

" Anne, his daughter, married Sir Robert Dudley, after- 
wards Earl of Leicester, who had a grant of this manor, with 
that of Hemesby, and advowson of the vicarage, lately belong- 
ing to the Cathedral Church of Norwich, the manor of 
Newton-by-Bircham, and the advowson, late John Robsert's, 
also the manor of Great Bircham ; to hold Hemesby with 
Anne, his wife, and the heirs of their bodies in capite ; and to 
hold Seidestern, Newton, and Great Bircham, to Anne and 
Robert, during the life of the said Robert, by a grant dated 
January 30, in the 3rd and 4th Philip and Mary. 2 

" The earl held this manor for life, dying lord of it in 
1588, when it came to John Walpole, Esq., son and heir of 
Edward Walpole, Esq., of Houghton, and Lucy his wife, 
daughter of Sir Terry Robsert, and in this family it remains, 
the Earl of Orford being lord. 3 

"The office of steward of the manor of Rising, in the 
county of Norfolk; and the constableship of the castle there, 
was granted by Edw. VI. to Sir John Robsert and Sir 

1 Bloomfield, as well as several other writers, in error, say Anne, instead of 
Amie or Amye. 

2 Bloomfield's ' Norfolk/ vol. iii, pp. 181-2. 

3 Dugdale's ' Baronage,' vol. ii, p. 222. 



6 AMYE ROBSART. 

Kobert Dudley [a son of the Earl of Warwick, and that 
married the daughter and heir of the said Sir John] for life, 
and to the longer liver of them, with a fee of 40$. by the 
year for the office of stewardship, and for the constableship 
£13 Sd. per ann., and for the office of master of the game 
j£4 13«. 3d. per ann., and 53s. 4d. for the wages of two 
forests, to be paid by the receivers of the premises. Bated 
in December." 1 

In 1551 Sir John Robsert was appointed one of the Lord 
Justices and Lord Lieutenants, with the Earl of Sussex, Sir 
Roger Townsend, and Sir William Fermor, for the county 
of Norfolk. 3 

In May, 1552, he was reappointed, with the Earl of Sussex, 
Lord Robert Dudley, and Sir William Fermor. 3 

In May, 1553, the same appointments were made. 4 

Amye 5 Robsart was the daughter of Sir John Robsart, of 
Siderstern, in the county of Norfolk) the manor of which 
came into possession of his family by the marriage of his 
father, Sir Theodorick Robsart, with the daughter and heiress 
of Sir Thomas Kerdeston, of Syderstern, in Norfolk. 6 Amye 
is mentioned by all writers as being the heiress of her father, 
and no mention made of any other children. She had, how- 
ever, a brother, who was illegitimate, named Arthur Robsart, 
and two half-brothers, John and Philip Appleyard, as well as 
two half-sisters, Anne and Frances Appleyard, all of whom, 
it is presumed, were living in 1560, two of them in that 
year attending the coroner's inquest on the death of Amye. 

Lord Robert Dudley, in his letter to Blount, 7 says, u I 
have sent for my brother Appleyard, because he is her 
brother." 

1 Strype*s ' Memorials/ vol. ii, pt. 2, p. 215. 

2 lb., vol. ii, pt. 1, p. 464. 

3 lb., vol. ii, pt. 2, p. 162. 

4 « Privy Council Register/ vol. iii, p. 554. 

5 Dugdale as well as other writers, in error, call her Anne, probably written 
Amie. 

6 ' Biographia Britanniea/ article " Robert Dudley." 

7 From contemporary copies in the Pepysian Library at Cambridge. 



AMYE ROBSART. 7 

Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of John Scott, Esq., 
of Camberwell, in the county of Surrey ; and though the fact 
is not mentioned by any writer that I have met with, she had 
previously been married to Roger Appleyard, Esq., lord of 
the manor of Stanfield or Stanfield Hall, in the county of 
Norfolk, who in 1528 left the manor to "Elizabeth" his 
wife, for life, and then to John Appleyard, his son and heir, 
who held it in 1549. 1 



1 Bloomfield's ' Norfolk/ fol., vol. ill, p. 851. 



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SCOTT, OF CAMBERWELL. 

" The manor of Camberwell-Buckingham, so called from 
having been in the possession of Edward Stafford, Duke of 
Buckingham, on whose attainder, in 1521 (13 Hen, VIII. ), it 
was granted to John Scot, who had previously rented the 
estate under the duke, at £7 a year, as appears by an 
account of ail the bailiffs of the castle, &c, of this duke, 
rendered to his auditors from Michaelmas to Michaelmas 
(3rd and 4th Hen. VIII.), 1511-12. 1 

" John Scot, the grantee, was made third Baron of the 
Exchequer in 1529, and died in 1553, leaving a son of his 
own name, mentioned by Hollinshed as having been concerned 
in some riots and misdemeanors with Lord Howard and Lord 
Ogle, for which they were all brought before the Court of 
Star Chamber. 

"This last-named John Scot died 15 Aug., 1558, and lies 
buried in the Chapel of our Lady in the Church of Camber- 
well. In an inquisition taken on his death it was found that 
he died seized of the manor of Camberwell, late the Duke of 
Buckingham's, who was attainted. 

"Richard Scot was his son and heir, then aged 32; and it 
is supposed that the manor of Camberwell, sometimes called 
the manor of Peckham, had been settled on him by his father 
during his lifetime, as the manor of Camberwell-Bucking- 
ham was bequeathed to his five other sons. Richard died 
16 Dec, 1560, leaving Thomas, his son and heir, then only 
seven years of age, and he died 19 Jan. following. Edward 
Scot, brother to Richard, then succeeded as heir." 2 

1 From a long roll in the British Museum. 

2 From Manning and Bray's ' Surrey,' fol., vol. iii. 



10 AMYE ROBSART. 

APPLEYARD, OF BRAKENASHE, BRAKENE, OR 
BROKEN, CO. NORFOLK. 

Sir John Robsart is described to be "late of Wyndham, 
alias Stanfeld," in Norfolk j 1 and it is most probable that on 
marrying the widow Appleyard he took up his residence at 
Stanfield Hall. 

It is singular that no mention has been made of the pre- 
vious marriage by any historian. Bloomfield, in his l History 
of Norfolk/ savs that Sir John Robsart is described as " late 
of Wyndham, alias Stanfeld," and in another place that 
" Sir John Robsart and Dame Elizabeth his wife resided at 
Stanfield Hall." Had he examined the ' Visitation of Nor- 
folk/ in the Heralds' College (the only pedigree of the Robsart 
family that I have met with), he would there have discovered, 
not only the birth of the illegitimate son of Sir John Robsart, 
but also, in the same ( Visitation ' the pedigree of the Apple- 
yards, which would have furnished him with the fact of the 
previous marriage and the issue of that marriage. 

Lord Braybrooke, in f The Diary and Correspondence of 
Samuel Pepys/ has given a short table, showing " the con- 
nexion of the Robsarts and Appleyards," in which he states 
Sir John Robsart to be the first husband of Elizabeth Scott 
instead of the second, and that Arthur was the son of the 
latter, whereas Amy e was the only child of that marriage, 
Arthur being illegitimate. He also states John Appleyard 
to be the only child of Roger Appleyard and Elizabeth Scott, 
whereas there were three other children. 

It would appear from the records of the Privy Council 
that John Appleyard was mixed up with Lord Robert Dudley 
in the " Lady Jane " emeute, in the first year of Qu. Mary. 2 

In 1588 John Appleyard was High Sheriff of the counties 
of Norfolk and Suffolk. 

1 Bloomfield's < Hist, of Norfolk.' 

2 See 'Extracts from Privy Council Registers/ in Appendix, 



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12 AMYE ROBSART. 

The marriage of the widow Appleyard to Sir John Rob- 
sart probably took place in 1531, her former husband having 
died in 1530. Amye was doubtless born at Stanfield Hall, 
in all probability in 1532. The death of Lady Elizabeth 
Robsart occurred (it is presumed) about twelve months before 
Amye's marriage, viz. in 1549, as Bloomfield states that the 
Manor of Stanfield Hall was held by John Appleyard, her 
son and heir, in that year. Of the death of Sir John Rob- 
sart I do not find any record, but as Lord Robert Dudley 
came into possession of the Robsart estates in January, 1557, 
we may conclude that Sir John died at that time. 1 

Stanfield Hall, where it is probable Amye Robsart was 
born, after being in the possession of her half-brother, John 
Appleyard, to whom it had been bequeathed after the death 
of Amye's mother, was sold to James Altham, Esq. (Baron 
of the Exchequer), who in 1564 sold it to Edward Flower- 
dew, Esq. (afterwards Baron of the Exchequer) , son of John 
Elowerdew, to whom Amye addressed a letter in 1559, and 
brother to William Flowerdew, who married Amye's half- 
sister, Frances Appleyard. Edward Flowerdew settled at 
Stanfield Hall, and purchased all the furniture from " John 
Appleyard, of Stanfield Hall/' The estate afterwards came 
into the possession of William Jermy, Esq., by his marriage 
with the heiress of the then owner, and he was living there 
in 1735. 3 It had been in the family of the Appleyards for 
upwards of a century, and in that of the Jermys for a still 
longer period, when it became so fatally memorable by the 
murder committed there some few years since, on the person 
of Isaac Jermy, Esq., and his son. 

Bloomfield, in his l History of Norfolk/ says — 
" Stanfield, or Stanfield Hall Manor, belonged to the Earl 
Warren in the Conqueror's time, and after to the Bigots, of 
whom it was held by Katherine, wife of Roger Fitz-Osbert, 
in 1306; and in 1346 Maud, widow of Oliver de Mouton, 
conveyed part of it to Bartholomew de Salle and Richard de 

1 For Copy of his Will see Appendix. 

2 Bloomfield's ' Norfolk,' fol., vol. i, pp. 721-2. 



AMYE ROBSART. 13 

Bittering, who joined it to that part that Rob. de La Salle, 
of Norwich, had in 1280. Another part remained in John, 
son of Thomas de Mouton and Ivetta his wife, to the value 
of 100s. per annum. In 1348 the said Bartholomew held it 
at the 4th part of a fee. In 1394 William Appleyard paid 
his relief for it to Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk, it being 
then held of the honour of Forncet; and in 1448 Edmund 
Appleyard, of Windham, son of William, gave it to Anne 
his wife for life; remainder to William, Geoffrey, and 
Edmund, his sons. Another part of this manor belonged to 
the Rokeles, and after to the Cursons, and was held by 
Richard de Curson in 1256, who was then summoned to be 
made a knight, as holding a whole fee here and in Ketring- 
ham. In 1307 Sir W r iliiam Curson held his part of Richard 
de la Rokele, by the 8th part of a fee, and had a capital 
messuage, in which he dwelt, 144 acres in domain, besides 
many lands, rents, and services, here and in Ketriugham. 
In 1317, Katherine Kurson, widow of Sir William, is called 
Lady of Stanfield ; she held it for life, and was succeeded by 
Sir John Curson, her son and heir, who in 1339 had Sir 
William Curson by Margaret his wife. In 1333 Oliver de 
Mouton and Maud his wife settled their part in this Sir John 
Curson, who had now married Ivetta, widow of Thomas de 
Mouton. In 1349 John de Berford; Roger Muirdegome, 
rector of Brakene ; Ivan, widow of John de Bumpstead ; 
Peter de Bumpstead ; Emma, wife of Bartholomew, son of 
Nicholas de Appleyard ; and Richard, son of Bartholomew 
de Salle, held jointly the manor of Stanfield, which they all 
settled on Emma for life, and afterwards released for ever to 
William Appleyard, who had possession in 1463. In 1514 
Sir Nicholas Appleyard, Knt., granted an annuity of £Q, 
issuing out of the manor, to John Griffith and Margaret his 
wife. In 1528 Roger Appleyard, Esq., of Brakene, gave it 
to Elizabeth his wife for life, 1 and then to John, his son and 
heir, who held it in 1549. It looks as if Philip Appleyard, 
Esq., sold it, for in 1563 James Altham, Esq., kept his first 
court, who in 1564 sold it with Hethill in common to Edward 

1 Elizabeth, widow of Roger Appleyard, who married Sir John Rohsart. 



14 AMYE ROBSART. 

Flowerdew, of Hetherset, Esq., and Henry, a younger son of 
Sir Robert Townsend, Knt., deceased ; and the same year 
Flowerdew conveyed his half to Thomas Townsend, of Brakene- 
Ash, Esq. ; Roger Townsend, of Raynham; Henry H evening- 
ham, of Ketringham ; William Curson, of Belagh ; and 
Francis Windham, of Lincoln's Inn, Esqs., who in 1569 re- 
conveyed their right to the said Edward Flowerdew and his 
heirs. This Edward settled at Stanfield Hall about 1566, 
for in that year, by the name of Edward Flowerdew, of the 
Inner Temple, gent., he purchased all the furniture of John 
Appleyard, of Stanfield Hall, in order to come and dwell 
there. In 1573 he was become an eminent barrister, for 
then Thomas Grimesdiche, of the Inner Temple, settled an 
annuity of 40s., issuing out of his manor called Joyces, in 
Little Hadham, in Hertfordshire, on him, in consideration of 
the good and faithful counsel he had given him. In 1575 
he had such another grant of five marks a year for life, made 
him by Simon Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, in Oxford- 
shire, and Walter, his son and heir, issuing out of their 
manor of Stanton Harcourt. In Michaelmas term, 1580, he 
was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law; and in 1584, 
23rd Oct., was made Baron of the Exchequer. By the in- 
quisition taken after his death, in 1599, it was found that the 
manor was in feofee's hands, to the use of Elizabeth his wife, 
as her jointure, and that he was seized of a moiety of Hether- 
set Manor, in Hetherset, and of the site of the Abbey, and 
that Anthony Flowerdew, gent., was his cousin and heir, 
being son of William, his brother, and that he was 29 years 
old. In 1631 Sir Robert Gawdy had his share of Sir 
Nathaniel Bacon's lands in Stukey, in right of Winnefred, 
his wife, one of his daughters and co-heirs, and had this 
manor settled on him for life only — remainder to Dorothy, his 
daughter and sole heir, then married to Sir Philip Parker, of 
Arwarton, in Suffolk, Knt., and her heirs. In 1642 it was 
purchased by Sir Thomas Richardson, Knt., in which family 
it hath continued ever since, William Jermy, Esq., and 
Elizabeth his wife being the present owners (1739). The 
fine is at the lord's will. 



AMYE ROBSART. 15 

(( This Elizabeth was the only sister and heir of William, 
Lord Richardson, who died 28th July, 1735. She was 
married in August, 1735, to William Jermy, only son of John 
Jermy, of Bayfield, in Norfolk. 

" Sir John Robsert, Knt., and Dame Elizabeth his wife, 
dwelt in Stanfield Hall in 1546." 1 

Rainthorp Hall, Malherbis, otherwise called Myles or 
Mills Manor. 2 

" In 1444 a portion of the manor was conveyed to Nicholas 
Appleyard and Margaret his wife. In 1466 Margaret, 
relict of Nicholas Appleyard, Esq., conveyed Miles's Manor 
to John Appleyard, Esq., in tail ; remainder to William, his 
brother; remainder to Henry, another brother ; remainder to 
Bartholomew, another brother ; with an over remainder to 
Elizabeth and Anne, their sisters, and their heirs. John 
Appleyard, Esq., inherited, and in 1498 settled it on trustees 
for the use of Nicholas, his son, who succeeded and left it to 
John, his son and heir. In 1515 Thomas Blowevyle was 
possessed of three parts of the manor. The fourth part 
passed as a single manor in the Appleyards, and in 1528 
Roger Appleyard, Esq., died seized of it, and John, his 
son and heir, inherited after the death of Elizabeth, 3 his 
mother. 

"In 1538 Robert Clere had it in trust, and afterwards Sir 
John Clere, Knt., for John Appleyard. In 1555 John 
Appleyard, of Brakenash, Esq., and Thomas Chapman, gent., 
son and heir of Alexander Chapman, Esq., deceased, sold to 
William Bigot, of Stratton, in Norfolk, gent., and John 
Strote, Esq., and their heirs in fee simple, the manor of 
Myles or Mills. In 1609 Thomas Baxter, gent., in right of 
his wife, who was late the wife of Alex. Chapman, and before 
that of James Bigot, gent." 4 

The marriage of Amye Robsart with Sir Robert Dudley 

1 Bloomfield's ' Norfolk/ fol., vol. i. 2 Ibid., vol. in, 44 

3 Mother of Amye Robsart. The second marriage of Elizabeth Scott, 
omitted throughout by Bloomfield. 

4 James Bigot, gent., married Anne, sister to John Appleyard, and she was 



16 AMYE ROBSART. 

took place at Sheen (now Richmond), on the 4th of June, 
1550/ with great splendour, in the presence of Edward VI., 
who has recorded the fact in his journal, in his own 
handwriting, still preserved in the British Museum, 3 to the 
following effect : 

" 1550. June 4. — Sir Robert Dudley, third [surviving] 
son to the Earl of Warwick, married Sir John Robsart's 
daughter, after which marriage there were certain gentlemen 
that did strive who should first take away a goose's head, 
which was hanged alive on two cross posts/' 

Robert Dudley was born on the 24th June, 1532 or 1533. 
The date of his birth is not given by any historian ; I disco- 
vered it in one of his letters to Queen Elizabeth, in which he 
says, "This is my birth-day/'' Amye Robsart, it is pre- 
sumed, was born in 1532, so that they were nearly of the 
same age. We have no account as to where they took up 
their residence on their marriage, but it was probably at 
Siderstern. 

In 1558 we have the following letter from Lord Robert 
Dudley, addressed to John Flowerdew, 3 who it is presumed 
was his steward or agent. 

" Good Me. Flowerdew, — I do most heartily thank you for 
your pains and travail you have taken for me, as well touching 
the matter of Flitcham, as other mine affairs at Sidesterne. For 
the first, I would very gladly proceed therein, having it so as 
to be no loser by such rates as might be too over high set. For 
that, as I said before, I shall refer unto you, in thinking the 
prices too unreasonable, I must, if to dwell in that country, take 
some house other than mine own, for it were wanteth all such 
chief commodities as a house requiretb, which is, pasture, wood, 
water, &o. To this I understand there is most of that the other 
wants, and besides it standeth somewhat nigh that little I have 

secondly married to Alex. Chapman, and thirdly she married Thomas Baxter, 
as above. 

* The day after the marriage of Dudley's elder brother John, then Lord 
Lisle, to the daughter of Protector Somerset. 

2 Cottonian MSS., Nero CX. British Museum. 

3 Harleian MSS., British Museum, 4712. 



AM YE ROBS ART. 17 

there. And where your care is so great for me in looking for 
my commodity herein, that you would have more advice than 
your own, for your contentation (though both your skill will suf- 
fice for a much greater matter than this, and my trust would not 
refuse that you should do in a greater matter also), I have 
required my brother Bige [Bigot] 1 to take pains with you, and 
what order you take as well for the rent and prices, as for the 
year, I will accept and agree unto. Praying you that if you 
conclude that I may have a full certificate that the ground is — 
what the stock is upon it already — and what number of cattle 
you judge it may keep. And hearing hereof from you both, 
Grod willing, I will immediately come down to see it myself, and 
to take further order by your advices for my coming thither. 

"I understand also that there is stuff or furniture in the 
house, which the executors will depart with all ; I pray you I 
may have some little inventory what it is, and how they will 
leave it, and I will send word again what I will do. If it be 
good and worth the prices, I would not refuse it. 

" For Sidestern, first for the fold-course [sheep-pens] at Box- 
ford, I do mind to store and lay it myself, praying you to give 
your order for it ; and for all things else that is out of order, 1 
pray you to redress it at your discretion, as well [as] for placing 
or displacing such servants or shepherds as be unmeet to have 
charge there, even in such sort as any way I would or should do 
myself. And think myself much beholding and greatly in your 
debt, for the friendship you have divers ways showed me. 

"And so with my hearty commendations, and ready to do 
you all the pleasure I may, I bid you farewell. From Hays, this 
Friday morning. 

" Tours assured, 

"R. Dtjddeley. 

" Sainte Magdylin's daye" 2 

Addressed — 

" To my very friend, 

" John Flowerdew, Esq., with speed." 



1 James Bigot, the first husband of Anna Appleyard, half-sister to Amye 
Robsart. 

2 Saint Magdalen's day, Friday, 22nd July, 1558. 



18 AMYE ROBSART. 

Flitcham, in the county of Norfolk, was formerly the 
property of Sir Thomas Hollis, whose son, William, married 
Elizabeth, daughter of this John Flowerdew, who was of 
Hetherset, in Co. Norfolk, and it is not improbable that this 
treaty of Lord Robert Dudley's for that estate was on the 
occasion of the death of William Hollis. It was not far from 
Newton and Great Bircham, which, with Sidestern, had been 
granted (30 Jan., 3 and 4 Philip and Mary) to Lord Robert 
for life. 1 

The Flowerdews were connected with Amye Robsart by 
the marriage of William Flowerdew, eldest son of the above 
John Flowerdew, of Hetherset, Co. Norfolk (to whom 
Dudley's letter is addressed), to Frances, daughter of Roger 
Appleyard and Elizabeth Scott, and half-sister of Amye Rob- 
sart. 3 Edward Flowerdew, Baron of the Exchequer, 3 and Lord 
of Stanfield Hall, was another son of this John Flowerdew. 

1 Bloomfield's « Norfolk,' vol. iii, 851. 

2 Amye had two half-sisters — Frances Appleyard, married to William 
Flowerdew, and inna, who married three times. She had also two half- 
brothers, John and Philip Appleyard, as will be seen by reference to the 
Pedigree at page 19. 

3 Edward Flowerdew was appointed Baron of the Exchequer 23rd Oct., 
1584, 27 Eliz. 



AMYE ROBSART. 



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20 AMYE ROBSART. 

Hays, or Hayes, from which place Lord Ptobert writes 
his letter, was formerly in the possession of the Scotts of 
Halden, ancestors of the Scotts of Camberwell ; it is situated 
south-west from Chislehurst, in the county of Kent. 

" Hayes Place is a seat in this parish, situated about one 
hundred yards from the church, westward, which was once 
the ancient residence of a branch of the family of the Scotts of 
H aid en, in this county. Sir Stephen Scott, Knt., one of the sons 
of John Scott, Esq., of Halden, who bore for his arms, argent, a 
cross croslet, sable, kept his shrievalty for this county at this seat 
in 1648, being then one of the gentlemen pensioners to Chas. I. 
He afterwards removed his residence to Cheshunt, in Hertford- 
shire, where he died in 1658, and was buried in this church. 

" John Scott, his eldest son, became his heir in this seat, 
and was a gentleman of the King's Privy Chamber. In 1757 
the estate was sold to the Right Honorable Wm. Pitt, second 
son of Robt. Pitt, of Boconnock, in Cornwall, Esq., descended 
from Thomas Pitt, Esq., sometime Governor of Fort St. George, 
in 1766 created Earl of Chatham. Soon after purchasing 
this seat he entirely rebuilt it, nearly on the old site, and 
added several parcels of land to it by purchase. In 1766 
Pitt sold the estate to the Hon. Thomas Walpole, second 
son of Horatio, Lord Walpole, younger brother of Sir Robert 
Walpole, the first Earl of Orford of this family. Two years 
after it was resold to the Earl of Chatham, at his earnest 
request, and he then resided much here. ' The great Earl of 
Chatham ' died here, 11th May, 1778, in consequence of the 
violent exertions he had made during a speech in the House 
of Lords, when, fainting away, he was carried home to his 
house in London, and from thence hither, where he lan- 
guished but a short time till his death, and was afterwards 
buried in Westminster Abbey at the public expense. 

" It afterwards came into the possession of the Earl of 
Dartmouth, who was possessor ot it in 1797. 

"The Right Honorable Wm. Pitt, second son of the great 
Earl of Chatham, was born at Hayes Place, 28th May, 1 759, 
during his father's residence here." : 

1 From Hasted's ' Kent,' 8vo, vol. ii, 1797. 



AMYE ROBS ART. 21 

Scotts or Halden. — John Scott died possessed of Halden 
House 21 Hen. VI. ; his grandson, Henry Scott, of Halden, 
died, and was buried here in 1512, bearing for his arms, 
argent; a cross-plate, fitchee, sable. He left two sons, of 
whom Henry, the eldest, succeeded him at Halden, and 
Thomas, the second son, marrying the daughter and heir of 
Conghurst, of Hawkhurst, inherited that seat. 

" From Henry, the eldest son, descended those of Hayes 
and Beckenham. 

"Thomas Scott, the second son, mentioned just before, 
who married the co-heir of Conghurst, had two sons. From 
the eldest, George, descended the Scotts of Conghurst; and 
from Thomas, the youngest, those of Sutton-at-Hone, and of 
London. They bore for their arms, argent, a cross-croslet , 
fitchee, sable} 

We do not find any other letter from Lord Robert Dudley 
having reference to the Robsart estates, or in any way 
connected with Amye Robsart, but we have a letter from the 
latter, and the only letter of hers that has been discovered. 
It is preserved among the Harleian MSS. in the British 
Museum, 2 written " from Mr. Hyde's," and presumed to have 
been in 1559. It is addressed to Mr. Flowerdew the elder, 
the same person to whom Lord Robert Dudley's letter is 
addressed, in reference to the estate at Flitcham : 

" Me. Floweedew, — I understand by Gryse that you put hiin 
in remembrance of that you spake to me of, concerning the going 
of certain sheep at Siderstern ; and although I forgot to move my 
lord thereof before his departing, he being sore troubled with 
weighty affairs, and I not being altogether in quiet for his sudden 
departing, yet, notwithstanding, knowing your accustomed friend- 
ship towards my lord and me, I neither may nor can deny you 
that request, in my lord's absence, of mine own authority, yea 
and [if] it were a greater matter, as if any good occasion may 
serve you to try me ; desiring you further that you will make 
sale of the wool so soon as is possible, although you sell it for 

1 From Hasted's ' Kent,' vol. vii, 1797. 

2 Harleian MSS., British Museum. No. 4712, 



22 



AMTE ROBSART. 



vi 8 . the stone, or as you would sell for yourself; for my lord so 
justly required rue, at his departing, to see those poor men satis- 
fied, as though it had been a matter depending upon life; 
wherefore I force not to sustain a little loss thereby to satisfy 
my lord's desire, and so to send that money to Grryse's house 
to London, by Bridewell, to whom my lord hath given order 
for the payment thereof. And thus I end, always troubling 
you, wishing that occasion may serve me to requite you, until 
that time I must pay you with thanks ; and so to Grod I leave 
you. 

" From Mr. Hyde's, this vii of August, 

Your assured, during life, 

"Amye Duddley." 
(Superscription.) 
" To my very friend, Mr. Flowebdew the elder, 

give this. Norfolk." 

This letter is spoken of by various writers as being in 
Amye's own handwriting, and comments have been made 
as to the boldness of her writing. I see nothing to justify 
such an inference. It should be borne in mind that at that 
period good writing was an accomplishment that every lady 
was not possessed of. It is the original letter, doubtless, 
but written, I conceive, by a clerk or secretary, and it would 
appear upon a careful examination that even the signature is 
not her own writing, but was either by the same clerk or 
one writing a similar hand. Neither is the name spelt as 
her husband and all others of that branch of the family wrote 
it, the e in Duddeley being omitted. It has the appearance 
as if she had commenced the signature, and after the first 
letter (A) that it had been finished by the clerk. We may 
presume from this circumstance that she was not skilled in 
writing, which may probably account for no other letter of 
hers having been discovered. The letter has no date to it, 
but from its contents it was probably written in 1559. 

" Mr. Hyde's," a * whose house Amye appears to have been 
staying when her letter was written, was in all probability 
William Hyde, son of William Hyde and Margery, daughter of 
John Cater, Esq., of Denchworth, in the hundred of Wanting 



AMYE ROBSART. 23 

and deanery of Abingdon, which lies about three miles north of 
Wantage, and nearly nine miles to the south-west of Abing- 
don. The manor of South Denchworth belonged to David 
Martun, Bishop of St. David's, who died in 1328. It was 
afterwards in the Corbets' ; Sir Roger Corbet died seized of it 
in 1417. His daughter and sole heir, Sybella, married John 
Grevell. The manor afterwards became the property of the 
Hydes, who by some fabulous tradition in the family were 
said to have possessed it from the time of King Canute. 
A pedigree of the Hydes in the British Museum l states Sir 
George Hyde, K.B., who died in 1625, and sold the manor 
of South Denchworth to Sir William Cockayne, to have been 
the sixth in descent from the first of that family who settled 
at Denchworth, which will not be found inconsistent with 
the records, which prove the manor to have been in the 
Corbets' so late as the commencement of the fifteenth century. 
Lord Viscount Cullen, son of Sir William Cockayne, sold 
South Denchworth to the Geerings, of whom it was purchased, 
in 1758, by the provost and scholars of Worcester College, in 
Oxford. 

i( In the parish church are several monuments of the Hydes 
and Geerings. 

"Wm. Hyde, Esq., as appears by his Will bearing date 
1557, was seized of the manor of Hydes and Lovedays, in 
South and North Denchworth.'" 3 

Oliver Hyde, who died in 1570, was Member of Parlia- 
ment for Abingdon, and was succeeded by Anthony Foster, of 
Cumnor. He was brother to the William Hyde, at whose 
house Amye's letter is supposed to have been written, and 
brother to Elizabeth, widow of John Odingsells, who is men- 
tioned in Blount's letter to Lord Robert Dudley as residing 
with Anthony Foster, at Cumnor, at the time of Amye 
Dudley's death. 

It was said that Lady Amye Dudley lived unhappily with 
her husband, but we have no clue to her private history 
beyond what is contained in her letter. From the expression 

1 Harleian MSS., 1535. 2 Lysons's ' Berkshire' 



24 AMYE ROBSART. 

in the early portion of that letter, in speaking of her hus- 
band, we may be led to suppose that the reports in circula- 
tion were true. Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne on the 
17th November, 1558, and Lord Robert was sworn of the 
Privy Council on the 4fch June, 1559, two months previous 
to the date of Amye's letter. " He being sore troubled 
with weighty affairs," in all probability refers to his constant 
attendance on the queen, and consequent absence from her. 
Again, "I not being altogether in quiet for his sudden de- 
parting," evidently showing a mind ill at ease. 

We hear nothing further of her till we find her residing 
at Cumnor, at the house of Anthony Forster, who was at 
that time tenant, but afterwards lord of the manor, and who 
was considered <c a very amiable man, very learned, a great 
musician, builder, and planter." 1 

We now proceed to give a short account of Cumnor Place> 
where Amye had been living, we presume for a short time 
only, as her letter from Mr. Hyde's was written in 1559 5 
and her death occurred in 1560. Cumnor was in the occu- 
pation of Anthony Forster at the time of her death. 

CUMNOR PLACE. 

Cumnor Place was one of the country seats of the abbots 
of Abingdon, and, on the dissolution of the monasteries 
George Owen, Physician to Henry VIII. , became the first 
lay proprietor, the king having granted it to him by Let- 
ters Patent, dated 5th October, 1546, in exchange for lands 
in Oxfordshire, which were surrendered to the crown. Wil- 
liam Owen, son of the above, on the death of his father in 
1561, sold the Cumnor property to Anthony Forster, who had 
occupied the mansion, as tenant, for some years previous. 
It was in September of the year previous that Amye Dudley 
died at Cumnor. 

Forster died in 1572, and in his Will left the Cumnor pro- 

1 From his epitaph in Cumnor Church. See Lysons's ' Magna Brit./ i, 270 



AMYE ROBSART. 25 

perty to the Earl of Leicester, conditioned on the payment of 
twelve hundred pounds, which, however, does not appear to 
have been accepted by the earl. 

Cumnor, after the death of Forster's widow, passed into 
the family of the Earl of Abingdon, where it still remains. 
It was for a long period deserted ; the recollection of Amye 
Dudley's melancholy end was revived amongst the ignorant 
villagers, whose imaginations conjured up forms and horrors 
before unheard of, and hence arose the legendary tales that 
have descended to the present day. Decay followed fast on 
desertion, and with the aid of the wanton and mischievous, 
before a century had rolled away, it had become almost a 
ruin. 

" When Cumnor Place was in the zenith of its splendour 
the great attraction must have been the park ; the terrace 
walks which encircled it, the stately trees and capacious 
fish-ponds with which it was ornamented, and the church 
elevated conspicuously in the immediate rear of the mansion, 
all added their charms to the natural beauty of the spot, a 
pleasing contrast to the distant uncultivated downs which 
form the southern boundary of the vale. A complete change, 
however, has now swept over the former interesting aspect of 
the scene. The church, indeed, is an abiding representative 
of former ages, and the resting-place of some of those whose 
lives were spent at this monastic abode, while round the 
sacred edifice rest the remains of many who felt the bounty 
of its owners. The gardens and grounds, wherein the unfor- 
tunate Amye passed so many cheerless hours, have disap- 
peared ; their site is now in the occupation of the agricul- 
turist, and for his convenience the present partition of them 
has been made. A few fine elms scattered here and there 
are all that is left to aid in realising the former picturesque 
appearance of this retreat, where we are privileged to sym- 
pathise with suffering innocence and blighted affection, al- 
though truth dispels from the story the exaggerated horrors 
with which those sufferings have been portrayed." 1 

1 Bartlett's ' Cumnor Place/ Oxford, 1850, 



26 AMYE ROBSART. 

" Part of the old mansion, which was formerly the abbots 
place, is fitted up as a farmhouse. The shell of the re- 
mainder, though in a state of dilapidation, is nearly entire ; 
some part of it appears to have been rebuilt after the Re- 
formation, by Mr. Forster." 1 

This short description of Cumnor would be incomplete 
were we to withhold that delightful ballad of Mickle's, which 
cannot fail to be of interest. 

The c Ballad of Cumnor Hall/ which, it is said, first sug- 
gested to Sir Walter Scott to write the romance of " Kenil- 
worth/' was the work of William Julius Mickle, who died in 
1788. It was first printed in Evans's c Collection of Old 
Ballads/ in 1784, with the antique spelling of Queen Eliza- 
beth's period. In a subsequent edition of this interesting 
work, in 1810, the poem was modernised, and from that the 
present excerpt has been made, which is now presented to 
the reader : 2 

" CUMNOR HALL. 

The dews of summer night did fall, 
The moon (sweet regent of the sky) 

Silver' d the walls of Cumnor Hall, 
And many an oak that grew thereby. 

Now nought was heard beneath the skies 
(The sounds of busy life were still), 

Save an unhappy lady's sighs, 
That issued from that lonely pile. 

" Leicester," she cried, " is this thy love 

That thou so oft hast sworn to me, 
To leave me in this lonely grove, 

Immur'd in shameful privity? 

" No more thou comest with lover's speed 

Thy once beloved bride to see ; 
But be she alive, or be she dead, 

I fear, stern Earl, 's the same to thee. 

1 Lysons's ' Magna Britannia/ vol. i, p. 454. 

2 Introductory Preface to Laneham's ' Letter,' 12mo, 1821. 



AM YE ROBS ART. 27 

" Not so the usage I received 

"When happy in my father's hall ; 
No faithless husband then me grieved, 

No chilling fears did me appal. 

" I rose up with the cheerful moru, 

No lark more blithe, no flower more gay ; 

And, like the bird that haunts the thorn, 
So merrily sung the livelong day. 

" If that my beauty is but small, 

Among court ladies all despis'd, 
Why didst thou rend it from that hall, 

Where, scornful Earl, it well was prized ? 

" And when you first to me made suit, 

How fair I was you oft would say ! 
And, proud of conquest — pluck'd the fruit, 

Then left the blossom to decay. 

"Yes, now neglected and despis'd, 

The rose is pale — the lily's dead — 
But he that once their charms so priz'd 

Is sure the cause those charms are fled. 

" For know, when sick'ning grief doth prey, 

And tender love 's repaid with scorn, 
The sweetest beauty will decay — 

What flow ret can endure the storm ? 

" At court, I'm told, is beauty's throne, 

Where every lady 's passing rare ; 
That eastern flowers, that shame the sun, 

Are not so glowing, not so fair. 

" Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds 

Where roses and where lilies vie, 
To seek a primrose, whose pale shades 

Must sicken — when those gaudes are by ? 

" 'Mong rural beauties I was one ; 

Among the fields wild flow'rs are fair ; 
Some country swain might me have won, 

And thought my beauty passing rare. 



28 AMYE ROBSART. 

u But, Leicester (or I much am wrong), 
Or 'tis not beauty lures thy vows, 

Rather ambition's gilded crown 

Makes thee forget thy humble spouse. 

" Then, Leicester, why, again I plead 
(The injur'd surely may repine), 

Why didst thou wed a country maid, 

When some fair princess might be thine ? 

" Why didst thou praise my humble charms, 
And oh ! then leave them to decay ? 

Why didst thou win me to thy arms, 

Then leave me to mourn the live-long day ? 

" The village maidens of the plain 

Salute me lowly as they go ; 
Envious they mark my silken train, 

Nor think a Countess can have woe. 

" The simple nymphs — they little know 
How far more happy's their estate — 

To smile for joy, than sigh for woe ; 
To be content, than to be great. 

" How far less blest am I than them P 
Daily to pine and waste with care ! 

Like the poor plant that, from its stem 
Divided, feels the chilling air. 

" Nor, cruel Earl, can I enjoy 
The humble charms of solitude ; 

Tour minions proud my peace destroy, 
By sullen frowns or pratings rude. 

" Last night, as sad I chanced to stray, 
The village death-bell smote my ear ; 

They wink'd aside, and seemed to say, 
' Countess, prepare — thy end is near !' 

"And now, while happy peasants sleep, 
Here I sit lonely and forlorn ; 

No one to soothe me as I weep, 
Save Philomel on yonder thorn . 



AMYE ROBSART. 29 

" My spirits flag — niy hopes decay — 

Still that dread death-bell smites my ear, 

And many a boding seems to say, 

1 Countess, prepare, thy end is near.' " 

Thus sore and sad that lady grieved, 

In Cumnor Hall so lone and drear ; 
And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved 

And let fall many a bitter tear. 

And e'er the dawn of day appeared 
In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear, 

Full many a piercing scream was heard, 
And many a cry of mortal fear. 

The death-bell thrice was heard to ring, 

An aerial voice was heard to call ; 
And thrice the raven flapp'd its wings 

Around the tow'rs of Cumnor Hall. 

The mastiff howl'd at village door, 

The oaks were shatter'd on the green ; 

"Woe was the hour — for never more 
That hapless Countess e'er was seen. 

And in that manor now no more 
Is cheerful feast and sprightly ball ; 

For ever since that dreary hour 

Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall. 

The village maids, with fearful glance, 
Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall, 

Nor ever lead the merry dance 
Among the groves of Cumnor Hall. 

Full many a traveller oft hath sigh'd, 
And pensive wept the Countess' fall, 

As wandering onwards they've espied 
The haunted tow'rs of Cumnor Hall." 1 

1 It will be perceived that Mickle erred in speaking of Leicester as the 
" Earl," and Amye as the " Countess," the former not having been created an 
Earl till some few years after Amye's death. 



30 AMYE ROBSART. 

The death of Amye Dudley occurred on Sunday, the 8th 
of September, 1560, at Cumnor, under circumstances cer- 
tainly of some suspicion. Without, however, giving credence 
to the various libels that appeared against Lord Robert Dudley, 
his own letters, which we now give, written upon that occa- 
sion to his cousin Blount (contemporary copies of which are 
still preserved in the Pepysian Library at Cambridge), serve 
very strongly to show that he at least manifested but very 
little feeling at the loss of his wife. The first letter, it will 
be seen, is from Windsor, the day after her death. 

Bartlett, in his history of Cumnor Place, has given these 
letters, which were first printed by Craik, in his ' Romance 
of the Peerage/ and as well, about the same period, by Lord 
Braybrooke, in his edition of the e Diary and Correspon- 
dence of Samuel Pepys/ 1 

The excellent observations or commentary on these letters 
by Mr. Bartlett serve so well to illustrate the subject, that I 
take the liberty to transfer them to these pages. 

" On the 9th of September, when Dudley was in attend- 
ance on the queen at Windsor, a messenger arrived from 
Cumnor with a letter containing the intelligence of the death 
of his wife on the previous day by a fall down some stairs ; 
and although it may be gleaned from the ensuing correspond- 
ence that Bowes, the messenger, was attached to the house- 
hold at the mansion of Cumnor Place, where the disastrous 
occurrence had taken place, he was unable to give very little, 
if any, account of how it happened, being in all probability 
absent with the rest of the servants at the fair at Abingdon. 

" Dudley's first impression on receipt of the news appears 
to have been most remarkable and mysterious ; he at once 
expressed an opinion that her death had not been the result 
of an accident, but of violence, and that he should be accused 
of being implicated in her destruction. The most reasonable 
explanation of these expressions that can be suggested, con- 
sistent with a perfectly guiltless conscience, seems to be that 
he must have at once perceived that so unlooked for an event, 

1 See ' Romance of the Peerage,' 1848, vol. i, Appendix ; and ' Pepys' 
Diary/ vol. iv, Appendix. 



AMYE ROBSART. 31 

occurring in so extraordinary a manner, would give his ene- 
mies the opportunity of asserting that his wife had been 
murdered, and that, notwithstanding his absence from the 
scene, they would charge him with being the originator of 
the plot ; and he could not but have felt that his past es- 
trangement from her would be held up as a ground of sus- 
picion, and would be generally interpreted as a strong pre- 
sumption of guilt. 

" His conduct also, as well as his expressions, exposes him 
to invidious remarks, and may be by the prejudiced re- 
garded as additional evidence in proof of the grave charge 
that has been so strongly urged against him. One would have 
thought that he would at once have started for the scene of 
his bereavement, and have satisfied himself whether there 
were any grounds to support his suspicions ; but, apprehensive 
of crimination from his wife's relations, he immediately 
despatches the news to them in Norfolk, that they might 
be present at the coroner's inquiry, which he knew to be 
inevitable, to satisfy themselves as to the true cause and 
manner of her death; and he then sits down and writes a 
letter of instructions on the subject to a gentleman in his 
confidence named Blount. 

" Such a course of proceeding on the part of Dudley, 
coupled with his expressions, do not at first sight seem alto- 
gether consistent with a complete state of innocence; but 
his subsequent conduct, in promoting the inquiry before the 
coroner, tends greatly to relieve the distrust that otherwise 
would be felt, and must be properly weighed in arriving at 
an impartial conclusion of his guilt or innocence ; indeed, it 
would be the extreme of prejudice to insinuate that there is 
anything in the ensuing correspondence that betrays an 
attempt on his part to conceal a crime or to baffle investi- 
gation. 

" The following letter is the first that passed between Dud- 
ley and Blount, pending the coroner's inquest at Cumnor : 



32 AMYE ROBSART. 



" Lord Robert Dudley to T. Blount. 1 

" Cousin Blount, — Immediately upon your departing from me 
there came to me Bowes, by whom I do understand that my wife 
is dead, and, as he saith, by a fall from a pair of stairs. Little 
other understanding can I have of him. The greatness and the 
suddenness of the misfortune doth so perplex me, until I do hear 
from you how the matter standeth, or how this evil should light 
upon me, considering what the malicious world will bruit, as I 
can take no rest. And, because I have no way to purge myself 
of the malicious talk that I know the wicked world will use, but 
one which is the very plain truth to be knowen, I do pray you, as 
you have loved me, and do tender me and my quietness, and as 
now my special trust is in you, that [you] will use all the devises 
and means you can possible for the learning of the troth ; wherein 
have no respect to any living person. And, as by your own 
travail and diligence, so likewise by order of law, I mean by 
calling of the Coroner, and charging him to the uttermost from 
me to have good regard to make choice of no light or slight per- 
sons, but the discreetest and [most] substantial men, for the 
juries, such as for their knowledge may be able to search throughly 
and duly, by all manner of examinations, the bottom of the mat- 
ter, and for their uprightness will earnestly and sincerely deal 
therein without respect ; and that the body be viewed and searched 
accordingly by them ; and in every respect to proceed by order 
and law. In the mean time, Cousin Blount, let me be advertised 
from you by this bearer with all speed how the matter doth stand. 
For, as the cause and the manner thereof doth marvellously 
trouble me, considering my case, many ways, so shall I not be at 
rest till I may be ascertained thereof; praying you, even as my 
trust is in you, and as I have ever loved you, do not dissemble 
with me, neither let anything be hid from me, but send me your 

1 " Cousin Bloimt." Dudley's brother, Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, married 
for his second wife, Elizabeth daughter of Gilbert, Lord Talboys (and widow 
of Thomas Wimbishe). She was great granddaughter of Sir John Blount, of 
Kynlett, Co. Salop. I presume Thomas Blount to be of this family. The 
father of Sir John Blount married Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Croftes. 
A descendant of the latter (I presume), Sir James Croftes, who was comptroller 
of the household to Queen Elizabeth, Leicester called " Cousin Croftes." 



AMYE ROBSART. 33 

true conceit and opinion of the matter, whether it happened by 
evil chance or by villany. And fail not to let me hear continually 
from you. And thus fare you well in much haste ; from Windsor, 
this ixth of September in the evening [1560]. Your loving friend 
and kinsman, much perplexed, "B,. D." 

" I have sent for my brother Appleyard, because he is her 
brother, and other of her friends also to be there, that they may 
be privy and see how all things do proceed." 

"From this letter, and the reply of Blount, it may be 
inferred that the latter had left Dudley at Windsor on the 
9th Sept. for the purpose of proceeding to Cumnor, but that 
previously to his arriving at Abingdon, which lay in his 
route, he met with Bowes on his way to Windsor with the 
above news, and from him learnt what had happened to Lady 
Dudley. Bowes, it would seem, informed Blount all that he 
knew of the circumstances, and also that when it occurred 
all the domestics belonging to the establishment were absent 
at Abingdon Fair. 

" It is somewhat strange that Blount, on being apprised 
of Lady Dudley's death, should, like Dudley, have felt dis- 
trust of fair means having been used towards her ; and his 
manner is in some degree open to suspicion ; inasmuch as he 
did not, upon hearing the disastrous intelligence, hasten on 
to Cumnor, or immediately return to Windsor, to consult or 
take fresh instructions from Dudley. He however continued 
on his journey as far as Abingdon, where he stayed the night 
at an inn, for the avowed but somewhat singular purpose of 
ascertaining the particulars relating to the catastrophe and 
the public feeling in the neighbourhood touching the cause. 
The better to accomplish this end he dissembles with the 
landlord, with whom he manifestly assumes to be uncon- 
scious of what had taken place, and leads him to believe that 
he is merely passing the night at his house, on his road into 
Gloucestershire, and while at supper sends for him to learn 
if there was any news stirring. As a matter of course, the 
all-engrossing topic of conversation, the death of Lady 
Dudley, is communicated, and he then proceeds to inquire 
how she had come by the fall ; to which the landlord replied, 

3 



34 AMYE ROBSART. 

he knew not. Dissatisfied with this answer, Blount asked what 
was his judgment and the judgment of his people; when the 
landlord, attempting an evasion of the question, replied, that 
some were disposed to say well, and some evil. This, how- 
ever, was by no means satisfactory to Blount, who was bent 
upon extracting from his host more than he appeared willing 
to disclose, and whom he supposed, like the rest of his fra- 
ternity, to be more conversant with the tales and rumours 
of the locality than the generality of the public, a country 
inn in those days being the place where all the news that 
was abroad was sure to be discussed and propagated; he 
therefore presses the landlord more closely for his opinion. 
' By my troth/ said he, ' I judge it a very misfortune, because 
it chanced at that honest gentleman's [Forster's] house, his 
great honesty doth much cut the evil thoughts of the people/ 
This remark in a measure appeased Blount, who, still pre- 
tending entire ignorance of everything connected with the 
sad affair, proceeded to interrogate his companion as to what 
explanation the domestics of the mansion gave of the matter, 
and was told that they were not at home at the time, but at 
Abingdon Fair. Upon this Blount proceeded to catechise 
the landlord as to how that chanced, and elicits in answer 
that, ( it is said how that she rose very early, and commanded 
all her sort to go to the fair, and would suffer none to tarry 
at home, and thereof much is judged/ 

" It may here be remarked, that, previously to this con- 
versation, Blount could not have received the above letter 
from Dudley, which was dispatched to him by a person of 
the name of Bristo, who, in all probability, delivered it to 
Blount on the next day, viz., the 10th, after he had arrived 
at Cumnor, and it is therefore beyond a doubt that the sus- 
picions that presented themselves in the minds both of Dudley 
and Blount on hearing her ladyship was dead, were also rife 
in the vicinity of Cumnor before either the one or the other 
were made acquainted with the fact of her decease. 

" The proceedings of Blount on reaching the scene of the 
calamity do not appear to have been characterised by any 
remarkable incident. He finds some of the jury already 



AMYE ROBSART. 35 

assembled at the house, and to them he communicates 
Dudley's wishes, and the directions he had received from 
him with reference to the inquiry about to be entered on, and 
he then sets about investigating the matter. He at once dis- 
covers that it is surrounded with such suspicious circum- 
stances, and is so enveloped in mystery, that, to use his own 
language, ' it passeth the judgment of any man to say how 
it is/ But the details of Blount's proceedings are more 
fully disclosed in his own letter to Dudley, which was written 
from Cumnor on the day after his arrival there, and is as 
follows : 

II.—" T. Blount to Lord Bolert Dudley. 
"May it please your Lordship to understand that I have 
received your letter by Bristo, the contents whereof I do well 
perceive ; and that your Lordship was advertised by Bowes upon 
my departing that my Lady was dead ; and also your strait 
charge given unto me that I should use all the devises and policies 
that I can for the true understanding of the matter, as well by 
mine own travail as by the order of law, as in calling the 
Coroner, giving him charge that he choose a discreet and sub- 
stantial jury for the view of the body and that no corruption 
should be used or person respected. Tour Lordship's great 
reasons, that maketh you so earnestly search to learn the troth, 
the same, with your egrrnest commandment, doth make me to do 
my best therein. The present advertisement I can give to your 
Lordship at this time is, too true it is that my Lady is dead, 
and, as it seemeth, with a fall ; but yet how or which way I 
cannot learn. Tour Lordship shall hear the manner of my pro- 
ceeding since I cam from you. The same night I cam from 
"Windsor I lay at Abingdon all that night ; and, because I was 
desirous to hear what news went abroad in the country, at my 
supper I called for mine host, and asked him what news was 
thereabout, taking upon me I was going into Gloucestershire. 
He said, there was fallen a great misfortune within three or four 
miles of the town ; he said, my Lord Robert Dudley's wife was 
dead ; and I axed how ; and he said, by a misfortune, as he heard, 
by a fall from a pair of stairs ; I asked him by what chance ; he 
said,, he knew not : I axed him what was his judgment, and the 
judgment of the people ; he said, some were disposed to say well, 
and some evil. "What is your judgment ? said I. By my troth, 



36 AMYE ROBSART. 

said he, I judge it a misfortune because it chanced in that honest 
gentleman's house ; his great honesty, said he, doth much curb 
the evil thoughts of the people. Mythinks, said I, that some of 
her people that waited upon her should somewhat say to this. 
No sir, said he, but little ; for it was said that they were all here 
at the fair, and none left with her. How might that chance ? 
said I. Then said he, It is said how that she rose that day 
very early, and commanded all her sort to go [to] the fair, and 
would suffer none to tarry at home ; and thereof is much judged. 
" And truly, my lord, I did first learn of Bowes, as I met with 
him coming towards your lordship, of his own being that day 
and of all the rest of their being, who affirmed that she would 
not that day suffer one of her own sort to tarry at home, and was 
so earnest to have them gone to the fair, that with any of her 
own sort that made reason of tarrying at home she was very 
angry, and cam to Mrs. Odingsells (P), 1 the widow that liveth with 
Anthony Eorster, who refused that day to go to the fair, and was 
very angry with her also, because she said it was no day for 
gentlewomen to go in, but said the morrow was much better, and 
then she would go. "Whereunto my lady answered and said that 
she might choose and go at her pleasure, but all hers should go ; 
and was very angry. They asked who should keep her company 
if all they went. She said Mrs. Owen 2 should keep her company 
at dinner. The same tale doth Pirto (?),, who doth dearly love 
her, confirm. Certainly, my Lord, as littfe while as I have been 
here, I have heard divers tales of her that maketh me to judge 
her to be a strange woman of mind. In asking of Pirto what she 
might think of this matter, either chance or villany, she said by 
her faith she doth judge very chance, and neither done by man 
nor by herself. For herself, she said, she was a good virtuous 
gentlewoman, and daily would pray upon her knees ; and divers 
times she saith that she hath heard her pray to God to deliver 
her from desperation". Then, said I, she might have an evil toy (?) 
in her mind. No, good Mr. Blount, said Pirto, do not judge so 
of my words ; if you should so gather, I am sorry I said so much. 
My Lord, it is most strange that this chance should fall upon 
you. It passeth the judgment of any man to say how it is ; but 
truly the tales I do hear of her maketh me to think she had a 

1 Sister of Oliver Hyde, M.P., and of William Hyde, at whose house Amye's 
letter was written. 

2 Wife of George Owen, Physician to Hen. VIII, and owner of Cumnor Place. 



AMYE ROBSART. 37 

strange mind in her ; as I will tell you at my coming. But to 
the inquest you would have so very circumspectly chosen by the 
Coroner for the understanding of the troth, your Lordship needeth 
not to doubt of their well choosing. Before my coming the most 
were chosen, and part of them at the house. If I be able to 
judge of men and of their ableness, I judge them, and specially 
some of them, to be as wise and as able men to be chosen upon 
such a matter as any men, being but countrymen, as ever I saw, 
and as well able to answer to their doing before whosoever they 
shall be called. And for their true search, without respect of 
person, I have done your message unto them. I have good hope 
they will conceal no fault, if any be ; for, as they are wise, so are 
they, as I hear part of them, very enemies to Anthony Forster. 
G-od give them, with their wisdom, indifferency, and then be they 
well chosen men. More advertisement, at this time, I cannot 
give your Lordship ; but as I can learn so will I advertise, wishing 
your Lordship to put away sorrow, and rejoice, whatsoever fall 
out, of your own innocency ; by the which in time, doubt not but 
that malicious reports shall turn upon their backs that can be 
glad to wish or say against you. And thus I humbly take my 
leave ; from Comner, the xith of September. Your Lordship's 
life and loving, "T. B." 

"Tour Lordship hath done very well in sending for Mr. 
Appleyard." 

" By this letter it is certain, that the chief ground of sus- 
picion rested upon the fact, that at the time of the fall, both 
Lady Dudley's and Forster's servants were away at the fair, 
which it so happened this year fell on a Sunday. The truth 
of the very remarkable assertion of Lady Dudley being angry 
with Mrs. Odingsells (who, it must be borne in mind, was a 
lady of family and station), because she declined to go to 
the fair, and of her not suffering one of her own attendants 
to remain at home, was most likely proved to the jury as an 
explanation of the cause of so few being at Cumnor Place 
when the fatal fall took place. Forster's absence is not 
alluded to, and therefore it may be supposed that he was at 
home at the time, and probably the only male person in the 
house, and that from these untoward circumstances, and the 
very singular manner of her death, the suspicions against 
him arose. 



38 AMYE ROBSART. 

" There is a passage in Blount's letter highly favorable to 
Forster, as it diminishes the probability of his having been 
accessory to the death of Lady Dudley. For in the conver- 
sation recounted to have passed between Lady Dudley and 
Mrs. Odingsells, the former states, that if Mrs. Odingsells 
should be absent, Mrs. Owen would be her companion at 
dinner. This lady may most reasonably be concluded to 
have been the wife of Mr. Owen, then proprietor of Cumnor. 
And so it would appear that both Mrs. Odingsells and Mrs. 
Owen were staying in the house, and that they were there 
when Lady Dudley met with her death. Under such circum- 
stances, it is hardly possible to conceive, that Forster would 
have attempted so atrocious a crime under his own roof; 
and it would be most improbable to suppose that he could 
have secured the connivance of these two ladies, even if he 
had induced all the servants purposely to absent themselves. 
Moreover, it appears that it was Lady Dudley, and not 
Forster, that insisted on the visit of the servants to Abingdon 
Fair. 

1 ' Blount's letter reaches Dudley, who had in the mean time 
gone to Kew, and causes him very great uneasiness. His 
apprehension that his wife had been murdered, and that he 
should be considered privy to the act, appears, if anything, 
increased by this communication. Upon receipt of it he 
again writes to his friend and emissary, urging him to repeat 
to the jury his earnest desire that they should, without either 
fear or favour, proceed in the most rigid manner with the 
investigation. The following is the letter : 

III.—" Lord Bohert Dudley to T. Blount. 

" Cousin Blotjnt, — Until I hear from you again how the matter 
falleth out in very troth, I cannot he in quiet ; and yet you do 
well to satisfy me with the discreet jury you say are chosen 
already: unto whom I pray you say from me, that I require 
them, as ever as I shall think good of them, that they will, accord- 
ing to their duties, earnestly, carefully, and truly deal in this 
matter, and find it as they shall see it fall out ; and, if it fall out 
a chance or misfortune, then so to say ; and, if it appear a villany 



AMYE ROBSART. 39 

(as God forbid so mischievous or wicked a body should live), 
then to find it so. And, God willing, I have never fear [of] the 
due prosecution accordingly, what person soever it may appear 
any way to touch ; as well for the just punishment of the act as for 
mine own true justification ; for, as I would be sorry in my heart 
any such evil should be committed, so shall it well appear to the 
world my innocency by my dealing in the matter, if it shall so 
fall out. And therefore, Cousin Blount, I seek chiefly troth in 
this case, which I pray you still to have regard unto, without any 
favour to be showed either one way or other. When you have 
done my message to them, I require you not to stay to search 
throughly yourself all ways that I may be satisfied. And that 
with such convenient speed as you may. Thus fare you well, in 
haste; at Kew, 1 this xiith day of September. Tours assured, 

"E. D." 

"Again, Blount conveys to the jury Dudley's commands, 
and as the inquiry advanced it is unquestionable that there 
was a suspicion of Lady Dudley having been murdered, and 
of Forster being implicated in the crime. Blount appears 
faithfully to discharge his trust, and he resorts to every 
means he can conceive likely to ascertain the true facts ; he 
endeavours secretly to discover the feeling of the jury, but is 
unsuccessful; and after remaining at Cumnor three days, 
he professes not to be able to regard her Ladyship's death 
otherwise than as an accident. He insinuates that some of 
the jury appeared to be quite desirous of criminating Forster 
if they could • and considers their not being able to prove 
anything against him, ought to produce a conviction that 
there were no grounds to consider it an act of violence. 
Blount's next communication is as under : 

1 Kew. In the year 1559 Lord Robert had a grant from the Queen of " a 
capital mansion, called the Dairy House," at Kew,* and was living there in 
1560, whence this letter was written. This Dairy House had been held in 
time of Edw. VI., by Sir Henry Gate, but as he suffered with John Dudley, 
Duke of Northumberland, 1st Mary, it would then have been escheated to the 



Manning and Bray's ' Surrey/ folio, vol. i, 446. 



40 AMYE ROBSART. 

IV.—" T. Blount to Lord Robert Dudley, 

" I have done your Lordship's message unto the jury. You 
need not to bid thein to be careful : whether equity of the cause 
or malice to Forster do forbid (?) it, I know not, they take great 
pains to learn the troth. To-morrow I will wait upon your 
Lordship ; and, as I come, I will break my fast at Abingdon ; 
and there I shall meet with one or two of the jury ; and what I 
can I will bring. They be very secret ; and yet do I hear a 
whispering that they can find no presumptions of evil. And if 
I may say to your Lordship my conscience, I think some of them 
may be sorry for it, Glod forgive me. And, if I judge aright, 
mine own opinion is much quieted ; the more I search of it, the 
more free it doth appear unto me. I have almost nothing that 
can make me so much to think that any man should be the doer 
thereof as, when I think your Lordship's wife before all other 
women should have such a chance, the circumstances and as many 
things as I can learn doth persuade me that only misfortune 
hath done it, and nothing else. Myself will wait upon your 
Lordship to-morrow, and say what I know. In the mean time I 
humbly take leave ; from Comner, the xiii th of September. Tour 
Lordship's life and loving [?], " T. B." 

"It would seem before the receipt of the last letter, the 
foreman of the jury had written to Dudley, apprising him 
that his wife's death did appear plainly to have been caused 
by an accident, but it is evident that at the time the letter 
was penned, a verdict to that effect had not been returned. 
The receipt of such a communication under such circum- 
stances will by some be suspiciously regarded ; both on the 
part of Dudley and the foreman. This letter, however, seems 
in a great measure to have relieved his anxiety; nevertheless 
he does not abate in his expressions of eagerness to sift the 
transaction, and to push the inquiry to the utmost possible 
limit. He requests that another gentleman, Sir Richard 
Blount, and also Mr. Norris, will assist in furtherance of the 
investigation. His intimation to this effect is conveyed to 
his friend Thomas Blount at Cumnor, in the following 
letter : 



AM YE ROBS ART. 41 



V.— " Lord Eobert Dudley to T. Blount. 

" I have received a letter from one Smith, one that seemeth to 
be the foreman of the jury. I perceive by his letters that he and 
the rest have and do travail very diligently and circumspectly for 
the trial of the matter which they have charge of, and for any- 
thing that he or they by any search or examination can make in 
the world hitherto, it doth plainly appear, he saith, a very mis- 
fortune ; which, for mine own part, Cousin Blount, doth much 
satisfy and quiet me. Nevertheless, because of my thorough 
quietness and all others' hereafter, my desire is that they may 
continue in their inquiry and examination to the uttermost, as 
long as they lawfully may ; yea, and when these have given their 
verdict, though it be never so plainly found, assuredly I do wish 
that another substantial company of honest men might try again 
for the more knowledge of troth. I have also requested to Sir 
Eichard Blount, who is a perfect honest gentleman, to help to 
the furtherance thereof. I trust he be with you, or thing long, 1 
and Mr. Morris likewise. Appleyard, I hear, hath been there, as 
I appointed, and Arthur Eobsert her brothers. If any more of 
her friends had been to be had, I would also have caused them to 
have seen and been privy to all the dealing there. Well, Cousin, 
Grod's will be done ; and I wish he had made me the poorest that 
creepeth on the ground, so this mischance had not happened to 
me. But, good Cousin, according to my trust have care about 
all things, that there be plain, sincere, and direct dealing for the 
full trial of this matter. Touching Smith and the rest, I mean 
no more to deal with them, but let them proceed in the name of 
G-od accordingly : aud I am right glad they be all strangers to 
me. Thus fare you well, in much haste ; from "Windsor. Tour 
loving friend and kinsman, " R. D." 

" What subsequently took place before the Coroner, or 
how long the inquest lasted after the 13th, or what became 
of Blount, are only subjects of conjecture,, for there are no 
further documents extant; and here, so far as is known, 
ended the correspondence. 

" There appears no ground for questioning the fairness of 
the inquiry, which, it must be borne in mind, was attended 

1 Here there appears to be some corruption of the text. 



42 AMYE ROBSART. 

by Arthur Robsart, a relation 1 of Lady Dudley's, and by 
Mr. Appleyard, probably the owner of Stanfield Hall, an old 
friend of her family, 2 and ended, after a tedious and patient 
investigation, with a verdict of mischance, or what would 
now be termed accidental death, which was equivalent to an 
entire acquittal of Forster and all others of violence. It is, 
however, certain that there were circumstances of very grave 
suspicion, and that an unusual degree of public feeling was 
roused in all parts of the country." 

" The only person known to have taken an active and con- 
spicuous part in the public outcry was Thomas Lever, a 
distinguished preacher of the day, a prebendary of Durham, 
and Master of Sherborne Hospital, who appears to have been 
impressed with the general opinion that Lady Dudley had 
been murdered, in furtherance of her husband's ambitious 
designs, and that it was his intention to hush up the matter, 
and prevent an inquiry into the cause of her death; and 
possibly feeling that the sacred duties of his office demanded 
that he should step forward, and claim on behalf of the 
public a discovery of the truth or falsehood of the current 
rumours, he took upon himself to address the subjoined letter 
to two of the Queen's principal advisers, being, it may be 
gathered, at the time unaware that a coroner's jury had been 
impanelled for that purpose, and that Dudley himself was 
urging the unflinching discharge of their duty : 3 

" ' The grace of God be unto your Honors, with my humble 
commendations and hearty thanks in Christ; for it hath 
pleased God to place you in authority with wisdom and wills 
to advance His glory, the Queen's Majesty's godly honor, 
and the peaceable wealth of this realm ; and that also I am 
well assured of your favorable minds towards me, to take in 
writing according to my meaning, faithfully, reverently, and 
lovingly. 

" c Therefore I am moved and boldened by writing to signify 

1 He was her illegitimate brother. 

2 Her half-brother John Appleyard. See Pedigree, page 11. 

3 Bartlett's ' Cuxnnor-place,' p. 58. 



AM YE ROBS ART. 43 

unto you, that here in these parts seemeth unto me to be a 
grievous and dangerous suspicion and muttering of the death 
of her which was the wife of my Lord Robert Dudley. And 
now my desire and trust is that the rather by your goodly 
discreet device and diligence, through the Queen's Majesty's 
authority, earnest searching and trying out of the truth with 
due punishment, if any be found guilty in this matter, may 
be openly known. For if no search nor inquiry be made 
and known, the displeasure of God, the dishonor of the 
Queen, and the danger of the whole realm is to be feared. 
And by due inquiry and justice openly known surely God 
shall be well pleased and served, the Queen's Majesty worthily 
commended, and her loving subjects comfortably quieted. 
The Lord God guide you by His grace in this and all other your 
goodly travels, as he knoweth to be most expedient in Christ. 
" ' Scribbled at Coventry, the 17th of September, by your 
faithfully in Christ, 

" c Thomas Lever. 

i( ' Unto the right honorable Sir Francis Knollys, 
and Sir William Cecil, Knights, and to 
either of them be these delivered.' 1 

"Whether Lever was satisfied with the verdict of the 
jury, there is nothing to show, but it may be presumed he 
was, as no more is afterwards heard of him on the subject." 

Let us now proceed to examine the various statements 
made by historians as to the manner of her death, all of 
which (Dugdale's excepted) have their foundation in the most 
virulent libel that ever was published, 2 viz. 'Leycester's 
Commonwealth/ 

Dugdale merely says, 3 " As to his wives, certain it is, that 
he first married Anne, 4 the daughter and heir to Sir John 

1 'Burleigh State Papers/ 1560. 

2 See ' Collins' s Memoirs/ attached to the ' Sydney Papers,' vol. i, p. 61; 
and ' Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary,' article " Dudley." 

3 ' Baronage,' vol. ii, p. 222. 

4 In which he is in error, as her own letter proves it to be " Amye :" 



44 AMYE ROBSART. 

Robsart, Knight, which lady came to an unhappy death, at 
one Mr. Forster's house, in Cumnor, near Oxford (then his 
tenant l ), by a fall from the stairs, as 't was said, and lyeth 
buried in St. Marie's Church, in that University." 

Wood } in his ' Athense Oxoniensis/ 3 says, " The Lady 
Amey Robsert, the first wife of Robert Earl of Leicester, 
whose body having been at first buried in Comnore Church 
near Abendon (for there she died, or rather was murdered, 
in the manor house there belonging to Anth. Forster, gent., 
8 September, 1560) was taken up, and reburied in the 
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, in Oxon." Afterwards in 
speaking of "Robert Persons or Parsons, a Jesuit," 3 the 
reputed author of ' Leycester's Commonwealth/ (i This book, 
tho' commonly reported to be Persons' (and that he had 
most of his materials for the composition thereof from Sir 
William Cecil, Lord Burleigh), which I presume did arise 
from Dr. Thomas James his affirmation, that he was the 
Author of it." 4 

Osborn, in his e Historical and Traditional Memoirs of the 
Reign of Queen Elizabeth/ 5 says, " Amongst all her minions, 
none (according to report) bad fairer for the Queen's Brid- 
bed than Lecester." . . . " Nor could Lecester render 
his bed vacant to a more thriving end (as he is rumor' d to 
have done) than to make roome for the greatest and most 
fortunate Princess the Sun ever looked upon, without blushing 
in relation to oppression or blood." 

Dr. Campbell, in the ' Biographia Britannica/ 6 in reference 
to Amye Dudley's death, says, "And so it falls out, that the 

Vincent, in the second edition of Brooke's ' Catalogue of Nobility/ 1622, 
makes the same error, correcting Brooke, who in the first edition was right. 

1 Forster was tenant to Mr. Owen. Cumnor was never owned by Dudley* 

2 Vol. i, fo., 1691, col. 166. 3 Vol. i, col. 304. 

4 See James's ' Life of Parsons,' at the end of the ' Jesuits' Downfall,' 4to, 
1612, pp. 55, 56. 

5 12mo, 1658, pp. 69—71. 6 Article " Robert Dudley," Note D. 



AMYE ROBSART. 45 

industrious John Aubrey, Esq., speaking of Cumnor, in 
Berkshire, where this happened, inserts the following relation, 
which is very circumstantial, and carries in it strong pre- 
tences to absolute certainty. At all events it is very curious, 
and much clearer than anything else that is to be met with 
on this subject/'' Dr. Campbell then gives the statement as 
written by Ashmole, for it was Elias Ashmole who was the 
author-of it, 1 and not "the industrious John Aubrey," a 
singular error that the Doctor here committed. Aubrey 
wrote nothing in relation to Amye Dudley. This error of 
Dr. Campbell's is the more remarkable, inasmuch as he, in 
speaking of Aubrey, quotes "his ' History of Berkshire/ pp. 
149 — 154," which is the reference to Ashmole's history. 
Strange that his successor, Dr. Kippis, did not detect this. 

Dr. Kippis, in the second edition of the 'Biographia 
Britannica/ condemns the reliance that his predecessor 
(Dr. Campbell) had placed on Aubrey's story (for he also 
has fallen into the same error, as to Aubrey instead of Ash- 
mole), and points out that this narrative, quoted by Dr. 
Campbell, is merely a plagiarism from 'Leycester's Common- 
wealth.'' 

Dr. Samuel Jebb, in his f Life of Robert, Earl of Leicester/ 2 
gives an abbreviated account of Ashmole's relation. 

In the f Bibliotheca Topographia Britannica/ " Berkshire 
Collections," 3 will be found the same account as in Dr. Jebb's 
Life, in which the writer (Mr. Mores, the Antiquary) quotes 
that work as his authority, as well as Wood's ( Athense 
Oxoniensis/ Osborne's ' Memoirs of Elizabeth/ and ' Secret 
Memoirs of Robert Earl of Leicester, with Preface by Dr. 
Drake.' The latter, however, is merely a reprint of ' Leycester's 
Commonwealth ' under another title. 

Bloomfield, in his f History of Norfolk/ 4 says, " This lady 

1 See Asbmole's " Antiquities of Berkshire/ vol. i, pp. 149—154. 

2 8vo, 1727, pp. 7, 8. 

3 Vol. iv, No. 16, p. 34*. 4 Folio, vol. iii, pp. 851-2. 



46 AMYE ROBSART. 

came to an unhappy death at Mr. Forster's house at Cum- 
nore, near Oxford, by a fall from the stairs, and was buried 
at St. Mary's, the University Church at Oxford. The Earl 
is said not to be overland to her, and that she was either 
thrown, or tumbled down a pair of stairs, and broke her 
neck." 

Lysons, in the ' Magna Britannia/ 1 thus speaks of Cumner- 
House, " the seat of Anthony Forster, Esq., who lies buried 
in Cumner Church. His epitaph represents him as a very 
amiable man, very learned, a great musician, builder, and 
planter ; but his character stands by no means clear of the 
imputation of having been accessary to the murder of the 
Countess of Leicester, 9, at his own house at Cumner, whither 
she was sent for that purpose by her husband. Sir Bichard 
Verney, one of the Earl's retainers, was the chief agent in 
this horrid business. A chamber is shewn in the ruined 
mansion, which adjoins the churchyard at Cumner, called 
the Dudley-Chamber, where the Countess is said to have been 
murdered, and afterwards thrown down stairs, to make it 
appear that her death was accidental." 

The authorities quoted by Lysons are Ashmole's ' Berk- 
shire ' and Dugdale's c Baronage/ 

Chalmers, in his c Biographical Dictionary/ has doubtless 
copied from the ' Biographia Britannica/ as he also has fallen 
into the same error as to ' ' Aubrey." Chalmers nevertheless 
states, " This narrative [Ashmole's], however, appears doubt- 
ful, because it is, in fact, almost closely copied from ' Leices- 
ter's Commonwealth/ a work which, with some truth, con- 
tains also much misrepresentation." 

Ashmole's relation, and the story in ( Leycester's Common- 
wealth/ would occupy too much space to be here given, but 
the following parallel passages will serve to show the plagiarism 
committed by Ashmole : — 

1 Vol. i, p. 270. 

2 Auiye Dudley 'never was Countess of Leicester; her husband was not 
created an earl till September, 1564, four years after her death. 



AMYE ROBSART. 



47 



Commonwealth. 
" As for example, when his 
Lordship was in full hope to 
marry her Majesty, and his own 
wife stood in his light, as he 
supposed ; he did but send her 
aside to the house of his servant 
Forster of Cumner by Oxford, 
where shortly after she had the 
chance to fall from a pair of 
stairs, and so to break her neck, 
but yet without hurting of her 
hood that stood upon her head. 
But Sir Richard Yarney, who by 
commandment remained with 
her that day alone, with one 
man only, and had sent away 
perforce all her servants from 
her, to a market two miles off, 
he (I say) with his man can tell 
how she died, which man being 
taken afterward for a felony in 
the marches of Wales, and 
offering to publish the manner 
of the said murder, was made 
away privily in the prison ; and 
Sir Eichard himself dying about 
the same time in London, cried 
piteously and blasphemed God, 
and said to a gentleman of wor- 
ship of mine acquaintance, not 
long before his death, that all 
the devils in hell did tear him 
in pieces. The wife also of 
Bald Butler, kinsman to my 
Lord, gave out the whole fact a 
little before her death." 1 

" Secondly, it is not also 
unlike that he prescribed 
unto Sir Eichard Yarney at 
1 Page 22. 



" It was thought, and com- 
monly reported, that had he 
been a bachelor or widower, the 
Queen would have made him her 
husband; to this end, to free 
himself of all obstacles, he 
commands, or perhaps with fair 
nattering entreaties, desires his 
wife to repose herself here, at 
his servant Anthony Eorster's 
house, who then lived in the 
aforesaid Manor-house ; and 
also prescribed to Sir Richard 
Yarney (a prompter to this 
design) at his coming thither, 
that he should first attempt to 
poison her, and if that did not 
take effect, then by any other 
way whatsoever to dispatch her. 
This, it seems, was proved by 
the report of Dr. TYalter Bayly, 
sometime Fellow of New Col- 
lege, then living at Oxford, and 
Professor of Physic in that Uni- 
versity ; who, because he would 
not consent to take away her 
life by poison, the Earl endea- 
voured to displace him from the 
Court. This man, it seems, 
reported for most certain that 
there was a practice, in Cum- 
nor among the conspirators, to 
have poisoned this poor inno- 
cent lady, a little before she was 
killed, which was attempted 
after this manner. They seeing 
the good lady sad and heavy 
(as one that well knew by her 
other handling, that her death 
Edition of 1641. 



48 



AMYE ROBSART. 



Commonwealth. 

his going thither, that he 
should first attempt to kill 
her by poison, and if that 
took not place, then by any 
other way to dispatch her how- 
soever. This I prove by the 
report of old Doctor Bayly, who 
then lived in Oxford (another 
manner of man than he who 
now liveth about my Lord of 
the same name), and was Pro- 
fessor of the Physic Lecture in 
the same University. This 
learned grave man reported for 
most certain, that there was a 
practice in Oumnor among the 
conspirators to have poisoned 
the poor lady a little before she 
was killed, which was attempted 
in this order: 

"They seeing the good lady 
sad and heavy (as one that well 
knew by her other handling 
that her death was not far off), 
began to persuade her that her 
disease was abundance of me- 
lancholy and other humours, 
and therefore would needs 
counsel her to take some po- 
tion, which she absolutely re- 
fusing to do, as still suspecting 
the worst, they sent one day 
(unawares to her) for Doctor 
Bayly, and desired him to per- 
suade her to take some little 
potion at his hands, and they 
would send to fetch the same 
at Oxford upon his prescription, 
meaning to have added also 



Ashmole. 

was not far off) began to per- 
suade her, that her present dis- 
ease was abundance of melan- 
choly, and other humours, &c, 
and therefore would needs coun- 
sel her to take some potion, 
which she absolutely refusing 
to do, as still suspecting the 
worst; whereupon they sent a 
messenger on a day (unawares 
to her) for Dr. Bayly, and en- 
treated him to persuade her to 
take some little potion by his 
direction, and they would fetch 
the same at Oxford, meaning 
to have added something of 
their own for her comfort, as 
the Doctor, upon just cause 
and consideration did suspect, 
seeing their great importunity, 
and the small need the lady 
had of physic, and therefore he 
peremptorily denied their re- 
quest, misdoubting (as he after- 
wards reported) least if they 
had poisoned her under the 
name of his potion, he might 
have been hanged for a colour 
of their sin; and the Doctor 
remained still well assured, that 
this way taking no effect, she 
would not long escape their 
violence, which afterwards hap- 
pened thus : 

" For Sir Eichard Yarney 
aforesaid (the chief projector 
in this design) who by the 
Earl's order remained that day 
of her death alone with her, 



AMYE ROBSART. 



49 



Commonwealth. 
somewhat of their own for her 
comfort, as the Doctor upon 
just causes suspected, seeing 
their great importunity, and 
the small need the good lady 
had of physic; and therefore 
he flatly denied their request, 
misdoubting (as he after re- 
ported) lest if they had poisoned 
her under the name of his po- 
tion, he might after have been 
hanged for a colour of their 
sin. Marry the said Doctor 
remained well assured that this 
way taking no place, she should 
not long escape violence, as 
after ensued. And the thing 
was so beaten into the heads of 
the principal men of the Uni- 
versity of Oxford by these and 
other means ; as for that she 
was found murdered (as all 
men said) by the Crowner's 
inquest, and for that she being 
hastily and obscurely buried at 
Cumnor (which was condemned 
above, as not advisedly done), 
my good Lord, to make plain 
to the world the great love he 
bare to her in her life, and what 
a grief the loss of so virtuous 
a lady was to his tender heart, 
would needs have her taken up 
again and reburied in the Uni- 
versity Church at Oxford, with 
great pomp and solemnity ; that 
Doctor Babington, my Lord's 
chaplain, making the public 
funeral sermon at her second 
burial, tript once or twice in 



Aslimole. 
with one man only and Forster, 
who had that day forcibly sent 
away all her servants from her 
to Abingdon market, about 
three miles distant from this 
place, they (I say, whether first 
stifling her, or else strangling 
her) afterwards flung her down 
a pair of stairs, and broke her 
neck, using much violence upon 
her; but, however, though it 
was vulgarly reported that she 
by chance fell down stairs (but 
yet without hurting her hood 
that was upon her head), yet 
the inhabitants will tell you 
there that she was conveyed 
from her usual chamber where 
she lay, to another where the 
bed's head of the chamber stood 
close to a privy postern door, 
when they in the night-time 
came and stifled her in her bed, 
bruised her head very much, 
broke her neck, and at length 
flung her down stairs, thereby 
believing the world would have 
thought it a mischance, and so 
have blinded their villany. But 
behold the mercy and justice of 
God, in revenging and dis- 
covering this lady's murder, 
for one of the persons, that was 
a coadjutor in this murder, was 
afterwards taken for a felony 
in the marches of Wales, and 
offering to publish the manner 
of the aforesaid murder, was 
made away in the prison by the 
Earl's appointment. 

4 



50 



AMYE ROBSART. 



Commonwealth. 

his speech by recommending to 
their memories that virtuous 
lady so pitifully murdered, in- 
stead of so pitifully slain. " 1 



Pp. 35, 36. 



Ashnole. 
"And Sir Bichard Varney 
the other, dying about the same 
time in London, cried miserably, 
and blasphemed God, and said 
to a person of note (who hath 
related the same to others since) 
not long before his death, that 
all the devils in hell did tear him 
in pieces. Eorster likewise after 
this fact, being a man formerly 
addicted to hospitality, com- 
pany, mirth, and music, was 
afterwards observed to forsake 
all this with much melancholy 
and pensiveness (some say with 
madness) pined and drooped 
away. The wife also of Bald 
Butler, kinsman to the Earl, 
gave out the whole fact a little 
before her death. Neither are 
these following passages to be 
forgotten, — That as soon as 
ever she was murdered, they 
made great haste to bury her, 
before the Coroner had given 
in his inquest (which the Earl 
himself condemned as not done 
advisedly), which her father, 
or Sir John Robsart (as I sup- 
pose) hearing of, came with 
all speed hither, caused her 
corpse to be taken up, the 
Coroner to sit upon her, and 
further inquiry to be made 
concerning this business to the 
full, but it was generally thought 
that the Earl stopped his mouth, 
and made up the business be- 
twixt them, and the good Earl, 
Edition of 1641, 4to. 



AM YE ROBS ART. 51 

Commonwealth . Aslimole. 

to make plain to the world the 
great love he bare her while 
alive, what a grief the loss of so 
virtuous a lady was to his tender 
heart, caused (though the thing 
by these and other means, was 
beaten into the heads of the 
principal men of the University 
of Oxford,) her body to be re- 
buried in St. Marie's Church, 
in Oxford, with great pomp and 
solemnity. 

" It is remarkable when Dr. 
Babington (the Earl's chaplain) 
did preach the funeral sermon, 
he tript once or twice in his 
speech, by recommending to 
their memories that virtuous 
lady so pitifully murdered, in- 
stead of saying pitifully slain." 1 

Dr. Kippis, who has compared the two statements, thus 
observes : 

" Our predecessor [Dr. Campbell] has laid too much stress 
upon ' Aubrey's [Ashmole's] narrative, which he considers 
as carrying in it strong pretences to absolute certainty. 
But the fact is, that Aubrey's [Ashmole's] story is mani- 
festly copied from ' Leycester's Commonwealth/ This will 
appear by the many correspondent passages. Aubrey [Ash- 
mole] has managed the matter so clumsily, as to retain 
words which betray the plagiarism ; such as ( fetch the same 
at Oxford.'' Nothing in the narrative seems to be Aubrey's 
[Ashmole's] own, excepting the sentence that begins 'Yet 
the inhabitants will tell you/ &c, which has much the air of 
a circumstantiated idle tale. Stories of a similar nature, 
with regard to other events, may be met with in every county 
in Britain." 2 

1 ' Antiq. of Berkshire,' 8vo., vol. i, pp. 140 — 154.) 

2 • Biog. Brit./ second edition, article " Robert Dudley," note, p. 4GG. 



52 AMYE ROBSART. 

The funeral of Amye Robsart took place at the Church of 
Our Lady at Oxford, on Sunday, the 22nd of September, 
1560, of which the following account will be found among 
the Dugdale MSS. in the Ashmolean Collection. 1 

" The funerall of the lady Amye Bdbsert, wife of the lord Robert 
Dudley, knight of the Garter, anno 1560. 

" Thenterment of the right noble lady Amey Robsert, late 
wyffe to the right noble the lord Robert Dudelley, knight and 
compaignion of the moste noble ordre of the G-arter and master of 
the horsse to the queenes moste excellent majestie, whoo departed 
out of this world on Sounday, beinge Our Lady day the viij. day 
of September, 2 at a keepe of one Mr. Eorster, iij. myle of Oxford, 
in the seconde yere of the reigne of our soveraigne lady queene 
Elizabeth, by the 3 [grace of God] queene of England, Eraunce, 
and Irelaund, defendour of the Eaith, &c. Anno domini, 1560. 

" Eyrste, after that the said lady was thus departed out of this 
transsetory world, she was safFely cered and cofFened, and so 
remayned there tyll Eryday the 4 day of the said moneth of Sep- 
tember, on the which day she was secreately brought to Grlouster 
college a lytell without the towne of Oxford, the which plasse of 
Grloster couledge was hanged with blake cloth and garnesshed 
with skocheons of his [armes and heres in palle, 5 that is to say, a 
great chamber where the morners did dyne, and at there chamber 
where the gentillwomen did dyne, and beneth the steres a great 
hall, all which places as afforesaid were hanged with blake cloth 
and garnesshed with skochions ; the howsse beinge thus furnesshed 
ther the corsse remayned till the buryall, and till suche tyme as 
all things were redy for the same. 

" The mannour of the gamessinge of the churche with the hersse. 

"Item, it was appoynted that the said corsse should be buryed 
in Our Lady churche in the said towne of Oxfourd, the which 
churche was hanged with blake cloth and garnesshed with 
skochions, and in the mydell eyle, in the upper ende, ther was 
maid a hersse iiij. square, conteynynge in leingth x. fote, and in 

1 Dugdale MSS., T. 2, fo. 77, Ashmolean Collection. Printed in the 
' Gentleman's Magazine,' August, 1850. 

2 The day of the nativity of the Virgin Mary. 3 So in MS. 

4 Blank in the MS. 5 So, for hers in pale. 



AMYE ROBSART. 53 

bredth vij. fote and a haulf, and in height x. fote on the sydes, 
and on the tope xiiij. fote, and from the tope came rochements to 
eche corner of the said square frame ; in the which tope of the 
hersse was set ij. skochions of armes on paste paper in metall 
wrought with compartements of gold, and bereth ther penseles 
round aboute them; beneth that the said tope was kevered all 
over with fyne blake cloth, and in every square ther was set iij. 
skocbions in metall, then on the rochements ther was set penseles 
of sarsenet in metall with bages ; l then on the square beneth the 
saide rochements went a bredth of blake velvet, on the which ther 
was pyned skochions in metall, on eche syde iij. and on eche end 
ij., and at the upper ege of the velvet ther was set penseles 
rounde aboute, and at the neither ege ther was fastyned a 
vallence of blake sarsenet wrytten with lettres of gold and frynged 
with a fringe of blake sylke ; ther was a flouer 2 of bords, and 
under that flouer ther was a vallence of bokeram with armes on 
the same; the iiij. postes were kovered with fyne blacke clothe, 
and on eche poste was fastened ij. skochions, and on the tope of 
every poste ther was a great skochion of armes on past paper 
with a compartement on the nether parte of the rayles of the 
saide hersse was hanged doubled with blake cloth and garnesshed 
with skochions. Then iiij. footefrom the same hersse went a rayll 
of tymber, the which was covered with blake and garnesshed with 
skochions in lyke manner as aforsaid, and betwene the sad ralle and 
the hersse there was set vii. stoles, that is to say, at the hedd one 
and one eche side iij. the which were covered with blake cloth, 
and cussions at the same to knele on ; the quere was also hounge 
and garnesshed in lyke maner, and at the upper end of the said 
quere was maid a vaute of bryke where the said crosse was buryed. 
Thus all things redy the day of the buryall was appoynted, the 
which was Sonday, the 3 [22nd] day of September, on the which 
day they proced to the churche in lyke manner. 

" The ordre of the procedinge to the churche with the said corsse 
from Gloster colledge to Our Lady Churche in Oxford. 

" Furste, the ij. conductors with blake staves in there hands to 
led the waye. 

"Then the pore men and women in gownes to the nomber 
of iiij" 

1 Badges. 3 Floor. 3 Blank in the MS. 



54 AMYE ROBSART. 

"Then the universsities ij. and ij. together, accordinge to the 
degres of the colleges, and before every housse ther officers with 
ther staves. 

"Then the quere in surpleses singenge, and after them the 
mynester. 

" Then Rouge Crosse pursuvant in his mornynge gowne, his 
hod on his hed, and his cote of armes on his bake. 

" Then gentillmen havinge blake gownes with there hoods on 
ther shoulders. 

" Then Lancaster heranld in his longe gowne, his hod on his hed. 

" Then the baner of armes borne by Mr. Appelyard in his longe 
gowne, his hod on his hed. 

" Then Clarenceulx, king of armes, in his longe gowne, and his 
hood on his hed, and in his cote of armes. 

"Then the corpes bore by viij. talle yeomen, for that they 1 
wey was farre and iiij. assystants to them, and on eche syde ol 
the corsse went ij. assystants touching the corse in long gownes, 
and ther hoods on ther hedds, and on eche corner a banerolle 
borne by a gentleman in a longe gowne, his hod on his hed. 

" Then the cheiffe morner, Mrs. Norrys, daughter and heire of 
the lord Wylliams of Thame, her trayne borne by Mrs. Buteiler 
the younger, she being assysted by Sir Eichard Blunte, knight. 

" Then Mrs. Wayneman and my lady Pollard. 

" Then Mrs. Doylly and Mrs. Buteller thelder. 

" Then Mrs. Blunte and Mrs. Mutlowe. 

"Then iij. yeomen in blake cotes, to seperate the morners from 
the other gentlewomen. 

" Then all other gentlewomen, haveing blake, ij. and ij. 

"Then all yeomen, ij. and ij. in blake cotes. 

" Then the majour of Oxford and his bretheren. 

" Then after them all that would, and in this ordre they proced 
to the churche in at the weste dore, and so to the hersse, wher 
the corsse was plased, and on eche syde of the hersse without the 
ralles stod ij. gentlemen holdinge the bannerroles, and at the 
fete stod he that held the great banner ; then the morners were 
plased, the chieff at the hed, and on eche syde iij. ; thus, every 
man plassed, the service began, firste sarteyne prayers, then the 
x. commandments, the quere answeringe in prykesong, then the 
pystel and the gospell began, and after the gospell the offering 
began in manner followinge : — 

1 SYe'inMS. [Qy. the way was far.] 



AMYE ROBSART. 55 

" Firste, 
"The order of the offer inge. 

11 Fyrste tlie cheff morner came fourth havinge before her the 
officers of armes, her trayne beinge borne, the assystante ledyng 
her, and thother morners followinge her, went to the offeringe 
and offered and retorned agayne to the hersse. 

" Then after she had maid her obeyssyaunce to the corsse she 
went upe agayne, havinge before her G-arter, and offered for her- 
self and retorned. 

Then offered the assystante to the cheiffe morner, and thother 
iiij. assystants havinge Clarenceulx before them. 

"Then offered thother vj. morners, ij. after ij. having before 
them Lancaster herauld. 

" Then offered all gentillmen, ij. and ij. havinge the Eugecrosse 
pursivante before them. 

" Then the mayor and his brethren offered, havinge an offycer 
of armes before them. 

"Item, the offeringe thus don the sermon began, mad by 
Doctor Babyngton, Doctor of Devynytie, whose antheme was 
JBeati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur." 

" In whatever manner the death of Lord Robert Dudley's 
lady took place, it is certain that, on his becoming a widower, 
his ambition raised him to the hopes of marrying the Queen ; 
and that there was a general opinion, both at home and 
abroad, of her Majesty's inclination to the match. Indeed 
it was not disclaimed by Elizabeth herself/'' 1 

The Queen took much pains to vindicate Leicester from 
the aspersions that were cast upon him. An instance of that 
may be found in her answer to Mr. Jones, who had been 
sent with despatches from Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, then 
ambassador in France, who says 2 that, in reference to the 
report that Lord Robert had caused his wife to be privately 

1 Biog. Brit. Article, " Robert Dudley," note 446. 

2 See his letter, dated 30th November, 1560 (little more than two months 
after Amye's death), printed in Lord Hardwicke's 'State Papers,' vol. i, 
pp. 163-9. 



56 AMYE ROBSART. 

murdered,, " She thereupon told me that the matter had 
been tried in the country} and found to be contrary to 
that which was reported, saying that he was then in the 
Court, and none of his at the attempt at his wife's house, 
and that it fell out as should neither touch his honesty nor 
her honour." 

Some years afterwards (in 1585) letters signed by Burghley 
and the rest of the Council were sent to the justices of the 
peace for the suppression of the libels in circulation against 
Leicester, and a letter with the Queen's sign manual was 
sent to the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen of London, 
to the same effect, as follows : 

"After our very hearty commendations. Upon intelligence 
given to her Majesty in October last past, of certain seditious 
and traitorous books and libels couvertly spread and scattered 
abroad in sundry parts of her realms and dominions, it pleased 
her Majesty to publish proclamations throughout the realm for 
the suppressing of the same, and due punishment of the authors, 
spreadors abroad, and detainers of them, in such sort and form, as 
in the said proclamation is more at large contained. Sithence which 
time, notwithstanding her Highness hath certainly known, that 
the very same and divers other such like most slanderous, shameful, 
and devilish books and libels have been continually spread abroad 
and kept by disobedient persons, to the manifest contempt of her 
Majestie's regal and sovereign authority, and namely, among the 
rest, one most infamous containing slanderous and hateful matter 
against our very good Lord the Earl of Leycester, one of her 
principal noblemen and Chief Counsellor of State, of which most 
malicious and wicked imputations, her Majesty in her own 
clear knowledge doth declare and testify his innocence to all the 
world, and to that effect hath written her gracious letters signed 
with her own hand, to the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen of 
London, where it was likely these books would chiefly be cast 
abroad. We therefore, to follow the course taken by her Majesty, 
and knowing manifestly the wickedness and falsehood of these 
slanderous devices against the said Earl, have thought good to 
notify her further pleasure and our own consciences to you m 
this case. 

1 Meaning the coroner's inquest. 



AMYE ROBSART. 57 

" First, that as in truth her Majesty hath noted great negli- 
gence and remissness in the former execution of her commandment, 
forasmuch as the said seditious libels have been suffered, since 
that time, to be dispersed and spread abroad, and kept by con- 
temptuous persons, without severe and due punishment inflicted 
for the same; so now upon the second charge and admonition 
given unto you, she verily looketh for the most strict and precise 
observation thereof, in the sharpest manner that may be devised. 
Testifying in her conscience, before G-od, unto you, that her 
Highness not only.knoweth in assured certainty, the libels and 
books against the said Earl, to be most malicious, false and 
slanderous, and such as none but the devil himself could deem to 
be true ; but also thinketh the same to have proceeded of the 
fullness of malice, subtilly contrived to the note and discredit of 
her princely government over this realm, as though her Majesty 
should have failed in good judgment and discretion in the choice 
of so principal a Counsellor about her, or be without taste or care 
of all Justice and conscience in suffering such heinous and mon- 
strous crimes (as by the said libels and books be infamously 
imputed) to have passed unpunished. Or finally, at the least, 
to want either goodwill, ability, or courage (if she knew these 
enormities] were true) to call any subject of hers whatsoever, to 
render sharp account for them, according to the force and effect 
of Jier laws. All which defects (God be thanked), we and all 
good subjects, to our unspeakable comforts do know and have 
found to be far from the nature and virtue of her most excellent 
Majesty. 

"And of the other side, both her Highness of her certain 
knowledge, and we, to do his Lordship but right, of our sincere 
consciences must needs affirm these strange and abominable crimes 
to be raised of a wicked and venomous malice against the said 
Earl, of whose good service, sincerity of religion, and all other 
faithful dealings towards her Majesty, and the realm, we have 
had long and true experience. "Which things considered and 
withall knowing it an usual trade of traiterous minds, when they 
would render the prince's government odious, to detract and bring 
out of credit the principal persons about them. 

" Her Highness taking the abuse to be offered to her own self, 
hath commanded us to notify the same unto you, to the end that 
knowing her good pleasure, you may proceed therein, as in a 
matter highly touching her own estate and honor. And therefore 



58 AMYE ROBSART. 

we wish and require you to have regard thereof accordingly, that 
the former negligence and remissness showed in the execution of 
her Majestie's commandment may be amended by the diligence 
and severity that shall be hereafter used. "Which amendment 
and carefullness in this cause chiefly, her Highness assuredly 
looketh for, and will call for account at your hands. 

"And so we bid you heartily farewell. Prom the Court at 
G-reenwich, the 26th day of June, 1585. 

(Signed by) " Tour very loving friends, 

"T. Bromlet, Cane, F. Bedford, H. Sydney, 

"W. Bttrghley, C. Howard, Chr. Hatton, 

Geo. Shrewsbury, J. Hundsden, Er. "Walsingham, 

H. Derby, E. Knollys, "Wal. Myldmay." 

{Endorsed) " Slanderous Books." 

{And in Lord Burghlefs writing), " 1585. A Copy of a Letter 
writ by her Majestie's Commandment to the Mayor of London, in 
defence of the Earl of Leicester." 



That 'Leycester's Commonwealth ' was a most virulent 
libel, every one must admit. Yet Ashmole, whose statement 
has been quoted by most subsequent writers, not satisfied with 
adopting the c Commonwealth ' story as his own, has added 
some statements at direct variance with the truth, for in- 
stance, — (< That as soon as ever she was murdered, they made 
great hast to bury her, before the Coroner had given in his 
Inquest (which the Earl himself condemned, as not done 
advisedly) which her father, or Sir John Robertsett (as I 
suppose) hearing of, came with all speed thither, caused her 
corps to be taken up, the Coroner to sit upon her, and further 
enquiry to be made concerning this business to the full, but 
it was generally thought that the Earl stopped his mouth, 
and made up the business betwixt them.''' 

Now, it so happens that her father, Sir John Bobsart, had 
then been dead above three years, for Dudley came into pos- 
session of the Bobsart estates in January, 1557. Then, again, 



AMYE ROBSART. 59 

" That as soon as ever she was murdered, they made great 
hast to bury her, before the Coroner/" &c, and that her father 
iC caused her corps to be taken up, the Coroner to sit upon 
her/' &c. The ' Commonwealth ' story says, "My good 
Lord would needs have her taken up again and reburied." All 
which is evidently false; there is nothing in Dudley's letters 
to Blount (before quoted) to warrant such an inference, 
and the following extract from a letter written immediately 
after the occurrence shows clearly that such was not the 
case ; it is from W. Honyng to the Earl of Sussex, then 
Lieutenant of Ireland, and is dated from Hampton Court, 
6th October, 1560, less than a month after her death. 1 

li This said bearer seeth the Court stuffed with mourners 
(yea many of the better sort in degree) for the Lord Robert's 
wife, who was upon the mischancing death, buried in the 
head church of the University of Oxford. The cost of the 
funeral esteemed at better than two thousand marks. '.' 

Dudley, on the 9th of September, the day after her death, 
desires the coroner may be summoned, " charging him to the 
uttermost from me to have good regard to make choice of no 
light or slight persons, but the discreetest and [most] sub- 
stantial men, for the juries, such as for their knowledge may 
be able to search throughly and duly, by all manner of 
examinations, the bottom of the matter, and for their up- 
rightness will earnestly and sincerely deal therein without 
respect ; and that the body be viewed and searched accord- 
ingly by them ; and in every respect to proceed by order and 
law." 3 

As we before stated, her illegitimate brother, Arthur 
Robsart, and her half-brother, John Appleyard, w r ere present 
at the coroner's inquest. 3 "We have been unable to find any 
report of the proceedings at the inquest, or of the finding of 
the jury, other than what may be gathered from the answer 
given by the Queen to Jones, the bearer of Sir Nicholas 
Throckmorton's despatches. 4 

1 Cottonian MSS., in the British Museum, Vespacian, F. xii, 151. 

2 Letter to Blount. See p. 32. 3 Ibid., p. 41. 4 See p. 55. 



60 AMYE ROBSART. 

In the Harleian Collection, 1 in the British Museum, there 
is preserved a manuscript entitled f English Pedigrees/ which, 
in speaking of Leicester, says — 

" In hatred of him chiefly it is thought that Parsons, the 
Jesuit, wrote that pestilent book called ' Leycester's Com- 
monwealth/ which, though it be stuffed with innumerable 
falsehoods, was secretly put into the hands of many men 
that would seem to know somewhat, but never sought into 
the depth of the Jesuit's contrivances, and so did as much 
mischief in that age and the following as any book that hath 
been printed " 

It is not necessary here to enter on the inquiry as to who 
was the author of 'Leycester's Commonwealth/ Writers 
differ in opinion as to whether it was Parsons, alias Persons. 
Dr. James, in his f Life of Parsons/ asserts that it was written 
by him, and calls it " an inormous libell written against one 
of the Peeres of this land." 

Dr. Campbell, in the 'Biographia Britannica/ remarks 
that "Dr. Thomas James, who was a very learned and 
knowing man, ascribed it to Robert Parsons, the Jesuit. 
Anthony Wood 2 says that it was commonly supposed to be 
written by him, and adds, in a parenthesis, that he had most 
of his materials for the composition thereof from Sir William 
Cecil, Lord Burghley. Upon what foundation this report 
stands, it is not easy to say ; but this is certain, that Parsons 
himself denied that he was the author of it, neither is it 
reckoned amongst his works either by Pits or Rybadeneira. 
Yet whoever considers and compares the ' Conference about 
the Succession/ which Parsons published under the name of 
Dolman, will not easily believe that he was not the author 
of this book also, though perhaps he might not call it 
( Leicester's Commonwealth/ and therefore might think him- 
self at liberty to deny his writing a book under that title. 3 

1 No. 6071. 2 'Athense Oxoniensis/ fo., vol. i, col. 360. 

3 The original title under which the book was first published is ' The copy 
of a letter written by a Master of Arts in Cambridge to his friend in London, 



AMYE ROBSART. 61 

As to Lord Burghley's furnishing the materials, when we 
consider the paper signed by him/ it must appear very impro- 
bable. It may not, however, be amiss to observe that it is on 
all hands agreed that our famous historian, Mr. Camden, 
had his materials for the first part of the f Annals of Queen 
Elizabeth' from that noble person, and many are of opinion 
that he actually wrote them. Now, upon examination it will 
be found that a great many of the facts in ' Leycester's Com- 
mon wealth ' are likewise related, though in a softer and less 
peremptory style, in those c Annals/ " 

Dr. Campbell was not the advocate of Leicester, for Dr. 
Kippis, his successor, charges him with having " departed 
from his usual biographical character, and to have been as 
ready to believe things to the prejudice of the Earl of 
Leicester, as he was, in the preceding lives, to palliate the 
conduct of the Dudleys " 

It will be seen by the foregoing that all the writers on 
this subject more or less quote from each other, and in 
some cases give their authority for the several statements 
made. 

Not so, however, with Ashmole ; in his statement we have 
no authorities cited. The details given by him are in that 
conversational style as though derived from sources of un- 
doubted authority, and it has therefore been found necessary 
to supply his omissions by giving the parallel passages from 
each writer, showing the plagiarism committed by Ashmole 
throughout his narrative, and to which not one word of truth 
can attach. 

We will now sum up the various writers quoted, and the 
authorities cited by them. 

Dugdale, who has but little to say, and no authority given. 

concerning some talk passed of late between two worshipfull and grave men 
about tbe present estate and some proceedings of the Earl of Leicester and 
bis friends in England. Conceived, spoken, and published with most earnest 
protestations of all dutiful goodwill and affection towards her most excellent 
Majesty and the Realm, for whose good it is made common to many. 5 First 
edition was 1584. 

1 Letters signed by Burghley and the rest of the Council, 26th June, 1585, 
before referred to, pp. 56-58. 



62 AMYE ROBSART. 

Wood (Anthony), 'Athense Oxoniensis/ speaks from 
general report only. 

Campbell (Dr.), in 'Biographia Britannica/ quotes from 
Ashmole (which by some unaccountable blunder he has 
stated as " the industrious John Aubrey"). 

Kippis (Dr.), in new edition of- same work, has fallen into 
the same error as to Aubrey (named by his predecessor), and 
shows the statement to be derived from the ' Commonwealth.' 

Jebb (Dr. Samuel), in his ' Life of Robert Earl of Leicester/ 
gives a short account from Ashmole, and which is word for 
word with the next work, — 

' Bibliotheca Topographia Britannica/ quoting as their 
authority Wood's ( Athen. Oxon./ c Secret Memoirs of Earl 
of Leicester/ Osborne's ' Memoirs of Elizabeth/ Dr. JebVs 
1 Life of Leicester/ 

Bloomfield, in his ' History of Norfolk/ says but little, 
citing no authority. 

Lysons, in c Magna Britannia/ authorities given — "Ash- 
mole and Dugdale." 

Chalmers, in his c Biographical Dictionary/ evidently 
copied from ( Biographia Britannica/ at the same time show- 
ing the plagiarism from the ( Commonwealth.' 

' Secret Memoirs of the Earl of Leicester/ with Preface 
by Dr. Drake, is a mere reprint of the ' Commonwealth/ 
without, however, naming or referring to that work. 

Bartlett, in his f History of Cumnor/ quotes from Ashmole 
and from Dugdale. 

Ashmole, in his ' History of Berkshire/ is now the only 
one that remains to be accounted for. Having given a fair 
illustration that his statement is taken wholly from the 
' Commonwealth, ; which was not published till twenty-four 
years after the death of Amye Bobsart, and his own history 
not written till upwards of a century had elapsed from the 
time of the occurrences he so minutely describes, it will 
clearly be seen that no reliance whatever can be placed on 
any of the statements. 

" If, after the critical examination we have given the subject 



AM YE ROBS ART. 63 

and the most searching inquiry into all the evidence before 
us, we have succeeded in showing that Amye Itobsart was 
not murdered, it might be asked, How, then, account for her 
death? Our reply is — the verdict of the coroner's jury — 
that of " mischance," or in other words " accidental death." 
Whether it was a voluntary or involuntary act can only be 
known to the Searcher of all hearts. We have no evidence 
on record to determine that matter, though from the expres- 
sion in her letter, in speaking of her husband, where she 
says, " he being sore troubled with weighty affairs, and I not 
being altogether in quiet for his sudden departing." 1 And 
again in Letter II., where Blount relates his conversation 
with Pirto (who was evidently her waiting- woman) , in which 
Pirto says " she was a good virtuous gentlewoman, and daily 
would pray upon her knees ; and divers times she saith that 
she hath heard her pray to God to deliver her from despera- 
tion." 2 From these facts we may infer that, goaded to 
despair by the neglect of her husband, there might exist an 
aberration of mind which would be likely to lead to an 
involuntary act of self-destruction. 

We should bear in mind that she had no settled home, no 
establishment of her own ; she was living, or rather visiting, 
from place to place ; at one time at Mr. Hyde's, a distant con- 
nection of her family by marriage, where she wrote, or rather 
indited, that letter, only twelve months before her death; 
then we find her at Cumnor, at the residence of one of the 
retainers of her husband. Evidently neglected by her 
husband, who was living at an establishment of his own 
at Kew, which had been given to him by the Queen, we 
have no evidence to show that he had ever visited her 
after his " sudden departing " from her. These facts would 
tend to infer a state of mind possibly driven to despe- 
ration. 

I If we have succeeded in removing one stain from the 
character of Leicester, one reproach from the character of 
Elizabeth, who held him in so high estimation, and if we 
shall succeed in removing any suspicion against Sir Richard 

1 See p. 21. 2 See p. 36. 



64 AMYE ROBSART. 

Varney, as being concerned in this " horrid business/' and if 
also it can be shown that Sir Anthony Forster was not in the 
least implicated in Amye's death, our labour will not have 
been in vain. 

Bartlett, in his account of " Cumnor Place/' speaking of the 
various statements in circulation, says, " It is somewhat to 
be regretted that those authors who have promulgated the 
reports should have received as authentic such scandals, 
without endeavouring to ascertain what proof there was for 
their foundation/' And in reference more particularly to 
Anthony Forster, he observes, " The insinuations of a rival 
political party and the tattle of the village were magnified 
upon every repetition of the story, and, as is invariably the 
case, time and tradition added to the horrors of the tale." 1 

And in reference to Scott's statements in his interesting 
historical novel, ' Kenilworth/ he remarks, " The reader will 
be surprised to find the extent to which his account varies 
from sober history." In speaking of Dudley, he says, "It 
is not to be conceived that Lord [Robert] Dudley would 
have been raised to an earldom, had the imputation of guilt 
really attached to him after the coroner's inquest ; and much 
less that the Queen would entertain affection for a nobleman 
whose fame was so dishonoured." 3 

Not the least reliance can be placed on any of the state- 
ments or charges contained in c Leycester's Commonwealth.' 
It should be borne in mind that that work was not written 
till twenty-four years after the death of Amye Dudley ; and 
how the author should be in possession of the circumstantial 
details which he there gives it would be difficult to con- 
jecture, unless from the mere vague reports and surmises, 
which are most frequently at variance with historical truth. 
A very able answer to the ' Commonwealth/ and refutation 
of the statements made therein, was written by Sir Philip 
Sydney 3 immediately after its first appearance in 1584, but 
which, however, does not appear to have been printed at the 
time, owing probably to Sydney's death occurring so soon 

1 ' Historical Account of Cumnor Place/ 8vo, Oxford, 1850. 2 Ibid. 
3 Nephew of the Earl of Leicester. 



AMYE ROBSART. 



after. It was not till many years after that it was brought 
to light by the publication of the ' Sydney Papers/ by Arthur 
Collins. 1 



SIR PHILIP SYDNEY'S DEFENCE OE THE EARL 
OF LEICESTER, 

Being a Reply or Ansiver to e Leycester's Commonwealth,' 
written, it is presumed, in 1584 or 1585. In his own 
handwriting, preserved at Penshurst. 

" Of late there hath been printed a book, in form of 
dialogue, to the defaming of the Earl of Leicester, full of the 
most vile reproaches, which a wit, used to wicked and filthy 
thoughts, can imagine. In such manner truly, that if the 
author had as well feigned new names, as he doth new matters, 
a man might well have thought his only meaning had been, 
to have given a lively picture of the uttermost degree of 
railing. A thing contemptible in the doer, as proceeding 
from a base and wretched tongue, and such a tongue, as, in 
the speaking, dares not speak his own name. Odious to all 
estates, since no man bears a name, of which name, how 
unfitly soever to the person, by an impudent liar, anything 
may not be spoken ; by all good laws sharply punished, and 
by all civil companies, like a poisonous serpent, avoided. 
But to the Earl himself, in the eyes of any men, who, with 
clear judgments, can value things, a true and sound honour 
grows out of these dishonorable falsehoods. Since he may 
justly say, as a worthy senator of Rome once in like case 
did, — That no man, these twenty years, hath borne a hateful 
heart to this estate, but that, at the same time, he hath 
shewn his enmity to this Earl ; testifying it hereby, that his 
faith is so linked to her Majesty's service, that who goes 
about to undermine the one, resolves withal to overthrow the 
other. For it is not now, first that evil-contented and evil- 

1 ' Sydney Papers,' " Lives of the Dudleys," vol. i. 

5 



66 AM YE ROBS ART. 

minded persons, before the occasion be ripe for them, to shew 
their hate against the Prince, do first vomit it out against 
his Councillors ; nay, certainly, so stale a service it is, as it 
is to be marvelled, that so fine wits, whose inventions- a 
fugitive fortune hath sharpened, and the air of Italy per- 
chance purified, can light upon no gallanter way than the 
ordinary pretext of the very clownish rebellions. And yet 
that this is their plot, of late, by name, first to publish 
something against the Earl of Leicester, and after, when 
time served, against the Queen's Majesty, by some of their 
own intercepted discourses, is made too manifest. He him- 
self, in some places, brings in the examples of Gaveston, 
Earl of Cornwall, Robert Vere, Duke of Ireland, and Delapole, 
Duke of Suffolk. It is not my purpose to defend them, but 
I would fain know, whether they that persecuted those Coun- 
cillors, when they had had their will in ruining them, whether 
their rage ceased, before they had as well destroyed the Kings 
themselves, — Edward, and Richard the Second, and Henry 
the Sixth? The old tale testifieth that the wolves, that 
mean to destroy the flock, hate most the truest and valiantest 
dogs. Therefore the more the filthy empostume of their 
wolfish malice breaks forth, the more undoubtedly doth it 
raise this well-deserved glory to the Earl, that [he] who 
hates England and the Queen, must also withal hate the 
Earl of Leicester. 

" And as for the libel itself, such is it, as neither in respect 
of the writer, nor matter written, can move, I think, the 
lightest wits to give thereto credit, to the discredit of so 
worthy a person. For the writer (whom in truth I know 
not, and, loth to fail, am not willing to guess at,) shews 
yet well enough of what kennel he is, that dares not testify 
his own writings with his own name. And which is more 
base (if anything can be more base than a defamatory libeller), 
he counterfeits himself in all the Treatise, a Protestant, when 
any man, with half an eye, may easily see he is of the other 
party ; which filthy dissimulation, if few honest men of that 
religion will use, to the helping of themselves, of how many 
carats of honesty is this man, that useth it (as much as his 



AMYE ROBSART. 67 

poor power can) to the harm of another ? And lastly, evident 
enough it is, to any man that reads it, what poison he means 
to her Majesty, in how golden a cup soever he dress it. 

" For the matter written, so full of horrible villanies, as 
no good heart will think possible to enter into any creature, 
much less to be likely in so noble and well-known a man as 
he is, only thus accused to be by the railing oratory of a 
shameless libeller. Perchance he had read the rule of that 
sycophant, that one should backbite boldly ; for, though the 
bite were healed, yet the scar would remain. But sure that 
schoolmaster of his would more cunningly have carried it, 
leaving some shadows of good, or, at least, leaving out some 
evil, that his Treatise might have carried some portable show 
of it : for as reasonable commendation wins belief, and 
excessive gets only the praiser the title of a flatterer, so much 
more in this far worse degree of lying, it may well rebound 
upon himself, the vile reproach of a railer, but never can 
sink into any good mind. The suspicion of any such un- 
speakable mischiefs, especially it being every man's case, even 
from the meanest to the highest, whereof we daily see odious 
examples, that even of the great Princes, the dear riches 
of a good name are sought in such sort to be picked away by 
such night thieves. For through the whole book, what is it 
else, but such a bundle of railings, as if it came from the 
mouth of some half-drunken scold in a tavern, not regarding 
while evil were spoken, what was fit for the person of whom 
the railing was, so the words were fit for the person of an 
outrageous railer. Dissimulation, hypocrisy, adultery, false- 
hood, treachery, poison, rebellion, treason, cowardice, atheism, 
and what not, and all still so upon the superlative, that it 
was no marvel, though the good lawyer he speaks of made 
many a cross to keep him from such a father of lies, and in 
many excellent gifts passing all shameless scolds, in one he 
passeth himself with an unheard-of impudence, bringing 
persons, yet alive, to speak things which they are ready to 
depose, upon their salvation, never came in their thoughts. 
Such a gentlewoman spake of a matter no less than treason, 
belike she whispered, yet he heard her ; such two Knights 



68 AMYE ROBSART. 

spake together of things not fit to call witnesses to, yet this 
ass's ears were so long that he heard them. And yet see 
his good nature all this while would never reveal them till 
now, for secresy sake, he puts them forth in print ; certainly 
such a quality in a railer, as I think never was heard of, to 
name persons alive, as not only can, but do disprove his 
falsehoods, and yet with such familiarity to name them. 
Without he learnt it of Pace, the Duke of Norfolk's fool, 
for he, when he had used his tongue, as this heir of his 
hath done his pen, of the noblest persons, sometimes of 
the Duke himself, the next that came fitly in his way, he 
would say he had told it him of abundance of charity, not 
only to slander, but to make bait. What therefore can be 
said to such a man ? or who lives there .... but that so 
stinking a breath may blow infamy upon? Who hath a 
father, by whose death the son inherits, but such a nameless 
historian may say his son poisoned him ? Where may two 
talk together, but such a spirit of revelation may surmise 
they spake of treason ? What need more, or why so much ? 
As though I doubted that any would build belief upon such 
a dirty seat, only when he, to borrow a little of his ink-horn 
when he plays the statist, wringing very unluckily some of 
MachiavePs axioms to serve his purpose then, indeed, then 
he triumphs. Why, then, the Earl of Leicester means and 
plots to be king himself, but first to rebel from the Prince to 
whom he is most bound, and of whom he only dependeth, 
and then to make the Earl of Huntingdon king, and then to 
put him down, and then to make himself. Certainly, sir, 
you shoot fair, I think no man, who hath wit and power to 
pronounce this word, England, but will pity a sycophant so 
weak in his own faculty. But of the Earl of Huntingdon, 
as I think all indifferent men will clear him from any such 
foolish and wicked intent of rebellion, so I protest before the 
Majesty of God, who will confound all liars ; and before the 
world, to whom effects and innocency will witness my truth ; 
that I could never find, in the Earl of Leicester, any one 
motion of inclination toward any such pretended conceit in 
the Earl of Huntingdon. I say no future wit, for as for the 



AMYE ROBSART. 69 

present, or for drawing it to himself, I think no devil so 
wicked, nor no idiot so simple, as to conjecture; and yet, 
being to him as I am, I think I should have some air of 
that, which this gentle libel- maker doth so particularly and 
piece-meal understand, and I do know the Earls of Warwick, 
of Pembroke, my father, and all the rest he names there, will 
answer the like. And yet such matters cannot be under- 
taken without good friends, nor good friends be kept without 
knowing something ; but the Earl's mind hath ever been to 
serve only and truly, setting aside all hopes, all fears, his 
Mistress, by undoubted right, Queen of England, and most 
worthy to be the Queen for her Royal Excellencies, and most 
worthy to be his Queen, having restored his overthrown 
house, and brought him to this case; that curs for only 
envy bark at. And this his mind is not only (though chiefly) 
for faith knit in conscience and honour, nor only (though 
greatly) for gratefulness, where all men know how much he 
is bound, but even partly for wisdom's sake, knowing by all 
old lessons and examples, that, how welcome soever treasons 
be, traitors to all wise Princes are odious, and that as Mutius 
answered Tully, who wrote to him how he was blamed for 
shewing himself so constant a friend to Caesar, that he doubted 
not, even they that blamed him would rather choose such 
friends as he was, than such as they were. For wise Princes 
well know, that these violent discontentments arise out of 
the parties' wicked humours, as in sick folks, that think, with 
change of places, to ease their evil, which indeed is inward, 
and whom, nor this Prince, nor that Prince, can satisfy, but 
such as are led by their fancies, that is to say, who leave to 
be Princes. But this gentle libel-maker, because he would 
make an evident proof of an unquenchable malice, desperate 
impudency and falsehood, which never knew blushing, is 
not content with a whole dictionary of slanders upon these 
persons living, but, as if he would rake up the bones of the 
dead, with so apparent falsehoods toucheth their houses, as 
if he had been afraid, else he should not have been straight 
found in that wherein he so greatly labours to excel. First, 
for Hastings, he saith, the Lord Hastings conspired the death 



70 AMYE ROBSART. 

of his master King Edward's sons ; let any man but read the 
excellent treatise of Sir Thomas More, compare but his words 
with his libel-makers, and then judge him, if he who in a 
thing so long since printed, and, as any man may see by 
other of his allegations of him diligently read, hath the face 
to write so directly contrary ; not caring, as it seems, though 
a hundred thousand find his falsehood, so some dozen, that 
never read Sir Thomas More's words, may be carried to 
believe his horrible slanders of a nobleman so long ago dead. 
I set down the words of both, because, by this only lively 
comparison, the face of his falsehood may be the better set 
forth. And who then can doubt, but he that lies in a thing, 
which, with one look, is found a lie, what he will do, where 
yet there is though as much falsehood, yet not so easy dis- 
proof. 

" Now to the Dudleys, such is his bounty, that when he 
hath poured out all his flood of scolding eloquence, he saith 
they are no gentlemen, affirming that the then Duke of 
Northumberland was not born so ; in truth, if I should 
have studied with myself of all points of false invectives 
which a poisonous tongue could have spit out against that 
Duke, yet would it never have come into my head, of all 
other things, that any man would have objected want of 
gentry unto him ; but this fellow doth like him, who, when 
he had shot off all his railing quiver, called one cuckold 
that was never married, because he would not be in debt to 
any one evil word. I am a Dudley in blood, that Duke's 
daughter's son, and do acknowledge, though, in all truth, I 
may justly affirm that I am, by my father's side, of ancient, 
and well-esteemed and well-matched gentry, yet I do acknow- 
ledge, I say, that my chiefest honour is to be a Dudley, and 
truly am glad to have cause to set forth the nobility of that 
blood whereof I am descended, which, but upon so just cause, 
without vainglory, could not have been uttered; since no 
man, but this fellow of invincible shamelessness would ever 
have called so palpable a matter in question. In one place 
of his book he greatly extolleth the great nobility of the 
house of Talbot, and truly with good cause, there being, as I 



AMYE ROBSART. 71 

think, not in Europe a subject house which hath joined 
longer continuance of nobility, with men of greater service 
and loyalty. And yet this Duke's own grandmother, whose 
blood he makes so base, was a Talbot, daughter and sole heir 
to the Viscount of Lisle ; even he, the same man, who, when 
he might have saved himself, chose rather manifest death, 
than to abandon his father, that most noble Talbot, Earl of 
Shrewsbury, of whom the histories of that time make so 
honorable mention. 

" The house of Grey is well known ; to no house in Eng- 
land in great continuance of honour, and for number of great 
houses sprung from it, to be matched by none ; but, by the 
noble house of Nevill, his mother was a right Grey, and a 
sole inheritrix of that Grey of the house of Warwick which 
ever strove with the great house of Arundel, which should be 
the first Earl of England ; he was likewise so descended, as 
that justly the honour of the house remained chiefly upon 
him, being the only heir to the eldest daughter, and one of 
the heirs of that famous Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, that 
was Regent of France; and although Richard Nevill, who 
married the youngest sister, because she was of the whole 
blood to him that was called Duke of Warwick, by a point 
in our law carried away the inheritance ; and so also I know 
not by what right the title, yet in law of Heraldry and 
Descents, which doth not consider those quiddities of our 
law, it is most certain that the honour of the blood remained 
upon him chiefly who came of the eldest daughter. And more 
undoubtedly is it said of the house of Berkeley, which is 
affirmed to be descended lineally from a King of Denmark, 
but hath ever been one of the best houses in England, and 
this Duke was the only heir-general to that house, which the 
house of Berkeley doth not deny ; however, as sometimes it 
falls out between brothers, there be question of land between 
them. Many other houses might herein be mentioned, but 
I name these because England can boast of no nobler, and 
because all these bloods so remained in him, that he as heir 
might (if he had listed) have used their arms and name, as 
in old time they used in England, and do daily, both in 



72 AMYE ROBSART. 

Spain, France, and Italy. So that I think it would seem 
as great news as if they came from the Indies, that he, 
who by right of blood, and so accepted, was the ancientest 
Viscount of England, heir in blood and arms to the first or 
second Earl of England; in blood of inheritance a Grey, a 
Talbot, a Beauchamp, a Berkeley, a Lisley, should be doubted 
to be a gentleman. But he will say, these great honours came 
to him by his mother, for these I do not deny they came so ; 
but that the mother being an heir, hath been in all ages and 
countries, sufficient to nobilitate, is so manifest, that, even 
from the Roman time to modern times, in such case they 
might, if they listed, and so often did use the mother's name ; 
and that Augustus Caesar hath both name and empire of 
Caesar, only by his mother's right, and so both moderns. 1 
But I will claim no such privilege ; let the singular nobility 
of his mother nothing avail him, if his father's blood were 
not, in all respects, worthy to match with hers. If ancient, 
undoubted, and untouched nobility be worthy to match with 
the most noble house that can be, this house, therefore, of 
Dudley, which in despite of all shamelessness he so doth 
deprave, is, at this day, a Peer, as we term it, of the Realm, 
a Baron, and, as all Englishmen know, a Lord of the Parlia- 
ment, and so a companion, both in marriage, Parliament, 
and trial, to the greatest Duke that England can bear; so 
hath it been ever esteemed, and so, in the constitution of all 
our laws and ordinances, it is always reputed. Dudley house 
is so to this day, and thus it hath been time out of mind ; 
in Harry the Fifth's time, the Lord Dudley was his Lord 
Steward, and did that pitiful office in bringing home, as 
chief mourner, his victorious master's dead body ; as who 
goes but to Westminster, in the Church may see. I think, 
if we consider together the time which was of England the 
most flourishing, and the King he served, who, of all English 
Kings, was most puissant, and the office he bare, which was, 
in effect, as great as an English subject could have, it would 
seem very strange ; so that Lord Dudley, if he could out of 
his grave hear this fellow make question, whether his lawful 

1 i. e. both name and arms. 



AMYE ROBSART. 73 

posterity, from father to son, should be gentlemen or no ? 
But though he only had been sufficient to erect nobility to 
his successors, bringing, as the Romans termed it, so noble 
an image into the house, yet did he but receive his nobility 
from his ancestors, who had been Lords of that very Seignory 
of Dudley Castle, many descents before, even from King- 
Richard the First's time ; at which time Sir Richard Sutton 
married the daughter and heir of the Lord Dudley ; since 
which time all descended of him, as divers branches there be, 
left the name of Sutton, and have all been called Dudleys, 
which is now above four hundred years since ; and both these 
houses of Sutton and Dudley having been before that time of 
great nobility ; and that Sutton was a man of great honour 
and estimation, that very match witnesseth sufficiently, it 
being a dainty thing in that time, that one of Saxon blood, 
as Sutton's name testifieth he was, should match with such 
an inheritrix as Dudley was; the like example whereof I 
remember none but the great house of Raby, who matched 
with Nevill, who of that match, as the Suttons were called 
Dudleys, so did they ever since take the name of Nevill ; so, 
as of a house, which, these four hundred years, have been still 
owners of one Seignory, the very place itself, to any that 
sees it, witnessing ; such as, for any that I know, in England 
none, but the noble house of Stafford hath the like, con- 
sidering the name of the house, the length of time it hath 
been possest, the goodliness of the seat, with pleasures and 
royalties about it ; so, as I think, any that will not swear 
themselves brothers to a reproachful tongue, will judge of 
his other slanders by this most manifest ; since all the world 
may see he speaks against his own knowledge ; for if either 
the house of Dudley had been great anciently, and now 
extinguished, or now great, and had not continued from old 
time, or that they had been unentitled gentlemen, so as men 
must not needs have taken knowledge of them, yet there 
might have been cast some veil over this untruth ; but in a 
house now noble, long since noble, with a nobility never 
interrupted, seated in a place which they have each father 
and each son continually owned, what should be said, but 



74 AMYE ROBSART. 

that this fellow desires to be known; suitably, having an 
untrue heart, he will become it with an untrue tongue. But 
perchance he will seem to doubt, for what will he not doubt, 
who will affirm that which beyond all doubt is false, whether 
my great grandfather, Edmond Dudley, were of the Lord 
Dudley's house or no. Certainly, he might, in conscience 
and good manners, if so he did doubt, have made some dis- 
tinction between the two houses, and not in all places have 
made so contemptible mention of that name of Dudley, which 
is borne by another Peer of the Realm ; and even of charity 
sake he should have bestowed some father upon Edmond 
Dudley, and not leave him not only ungentled, but fatherless. 
A railing writer extant, against Octavius Augustus, saith his 
grandfather was a silversmith ; another Italian, against Hugh 
Capet, though with most absurd falsehood, saith his father 
was a butcher. Of divers of the best houses of England, 
there have been such foolish dreams, that one was a Farrier's 
son, another a Shoemaker's, another a Miller's, another a 
Fiddler's; foolish lies, and by any that ever tasted any 
antiquities, known to be so. Yet those houses had luck to 
meet with honester railers, for they were not left fatherless 
clean, they descended from somebody ; but we, as if we were 
of Deucalion's brood, were made out of stones, have left us 
no ancestors from whence we are come. But, alas, good 
railer, you saw the proofs were clear, and therefore for 
honesty sake, were contented to omit them; for, if either 
there had been difference of name, or difference of arms 
between them ; or, if though in name and arms they agreed, 
yet, if there had been many descents fallen since, the sepa- 
rating of those branches (as we see in many ancient houses, 
it so falls out, as they are uncertain whether they came out 
of other), then, I say yet, a valiant railer may venture upon 
a thing, where, because there is not an absolute certainty, 
there may be some possibility to escape; but in this case, 
where not only name and arms, with only that difference, 
which acknowledged our house to be of the younger brother, 
but such nearness of blood, as that Edmond Dudley was no 
further off than son to the younger brother of the same Lord 



AMYE ROBSART. 75 

Dudley, and so as he was to be Lord Dudley if the Lord 
Dudley had died without heirs : and by the German and 
Italian manner, himself was to have been also called Lord 
Dudley ; that his father, being called John Dudley, married 
to the daughter and heir of Bramshot, in Sussex ; 'twas the 
only descent between him and the Lord Dudley, who was his 
grandfather : his great grandfather being that noble Lord 
Dudley, whom before I mentioned, and no man need doubt 
that this writer doth not only know the truth hereof, but the 
proofs of this truth. This John, Edmond' s father, being 
buried at Arundel Castle, who married Bramshot, and left 
that land to Edmond, and so to the Duke, in Sussex, which, 
after the Duke sold, by confiscation came to the Crown. 
This tomb any man at Arundel Castle may see. This Bram- 
shot land I name, a thing not in the air, but which any 
man, by the ordinary course of those things, may soon know 
whether such land did not succeed unto Edmond from his 
father. So as were this inheritance of land, and monuments 
in churches, and the persons themselves little more than in 
man's memory; truly this libeller deserves many thanks, 
that, with his impudent falsehood, hath given occasion to 
set down so manifest a truth. 

' ' As to the Dudleys, he deals much harder withal, but no 
wit truer; but therein I must confess I cannot allege his 
uncharitable triumphing upon the calamities fallen to that 
house, though they might well be challenged of a writer of 
whom any honesty were to be expected ; but God forbid I 
should find fault with that, since, in all his book, there is 
scarce any one truth else. But our house received such an 
overthrow; and hath none else in England done so ? I will 
not seek to wash away that dishonour with other honorable 
tears. I would this island were not so full of such examples ; 
and I think, indeed, this writer, if he were known, might in 
conscience clear his ancestors of any such disgraces; they 
were too low in the mire to be so thunderstricken ; but this 
I may justly and boldly affirm — let the last fault of the Duke 
be buried. 

" And, in good faith, now I have so far touched there, as 



7Q AMYE ROBSART. 

any man that listeth to know a truth (if at least there be any 
that can doubt thereof), may straight be satisfied. I do not 
mean to give any man's eyes or ears such a surfeit, as by 
answering to repeat his filthy falsehoods, so contrary to them- 
selves, as may well show how evil lies can be built with any 
uniformity. The same man, in the beginning of the book, 
was potent, to use his term, in that the Queen had cause to 
fear him; the same man, in the end thereof, so abject, as any 
man might tread on him ; the same man, so unfriendly as no 
man could love him ; the same man, so supported by friends 
that Court and country were full of them ; the same man, 
extremely weak of body and infinitely luxurious ; the same 
man, a dastard to fear anything ; the same njan, so venture- 
some as to undertake, having no more title, such a matter, 
that Hercules himself would be afraid to do, if he were here 
among us. In some, in one the same man, all the faults 
that in all the most contrary humoured men in the world can 
remain ; that sure, I think, he hath read the devil's roll of 
complaints which he means to put up against mankind, or 
else he could never have been acquainted with so many 
wretched mischiefs. But hard it were if every goose-quill 
could any way blot the honour of an Earl of Leicester, 
written in the hearts of so many men throughout Europe. 
Neither for me shall ever so worthy a man's name be brought 
to be made a question, where there is only such a nameless 
and shameless opposer. But because that, though the writer 
hereof doth most falsely lay want of gentry to my dead an- 
cestors, I have to the world thought good to say a little, 
which, I will assure any that list to seek, shall find confirmed 
with much more. But to thee I say, thou therein liest in 
thy throat, which I will be ready to justify upon thee, in any 
place of Europe, where thou wilt assign me a free place of 
coming, as within three months after the publishing hereof, 
I may understand thy mind. And as till thou hast proved 
this, in all construction of virtue and honour, all the shame 
thou hast spoken is thine own, the right reward of an evil- 
tongued schelm, 1 as the German, especially, call such people. 

1 A knave, a villain. 



AM YE ROBS ART. 77 

So, again, in any place, whereto thou wilt call me, provided 
that the place be such as a servant of the Queen's majesty 
have free access unto ; if I do not, having my life and liberty, 
prove this upon thee, I am content that this lie I have given 
thee, return to my perpetual infamy. And this which I 
write I would send to thine own hands, if I knew thee ; but 
I trust it cannot be intended that he should be ignorant of 
this printed in London, which knows the very whisperings of 
the Privy Chamber. I will make dainty of no baseness in 
thee, that art, indeed, the writer of this book. And, from 
the date of this writing, imprinted and published, I will 
three months expect thine answer." 

The following endorsements are on the original : 

"A discourse in defence of the C™ S is Sir R Sidne y' s brother's hand- writing 
™ , .r . . . „ < viz., Robert Sidney, the first Earl or. 

Leicester of the name of Sidney. 

., T , , , , ("This is the handwriting of Robert, second 

" In my uncle s own hand, -n -i c t - *. * x. • j. j.v. 

J , , , , , , , -, J Larl ot Leicester, son and heir to the 

worthy to be better known^ aforesaid R and gir 

to the world'. • • • [ sidney< P 

Collins says, in relation to the above, "copied from his 
own handwriting, at Penshurst Place, and attested both by 
Robert Sydney, Earl of Leicester, his brother ; and Robert, 
the 2d Earl of Leicester, his nephew." 

"Seems to have been wrote immediately after the first 
publication, An. 1584; but I never heard of any one that has 
seen it in print." 1 

ROBERT PARSONS or PERSONS, the reputed author 
of 'Leycester's Commonwealth/ is thus spoken of by Camden, 
in his c Annals of Queen Elizabeth : 

" Robert Persons and Edmund Campian, English Jesuits, 
came into England at this time, 'to set Romish affairs 
forward.' 

"This Robert Persons was a Somersetshire man, of a 
vehement and savage nature, of most uncivil manners and ill 
behaviour. 

1 Memoirs attached to the Sydney Papers. 



78 AMYE ROBSART. 

" Edward Campian was a Londoner, of a contrary carriage ; 
both were Oxford men, and I knew them while I was in the 
same University. 

" Campian, being out of St. John's College, professed the 
place of Attorney in the said University in the year 1568, 
and being established Arch Deacon, made a show to affect 
the Protestant faith until that day he left England. 

" Persons being out of Baliol College, in which he openly 
made profession of the Protestant religion, until his wicked 
life and base conversation purchasing him a shameful exile 
from thence, he retired himself to the Papists' side. 

"Since both of them returning into England, were dis- 
guised, sometimes in the habits of soldiers, sometimes like 
gentlemen, and sometimes much like unto our ministers; 
they secretly travelled through England, from house to house, 
and places of popish nobility and gentry, valiantly executing 
by words and writings their commission. 

" Persons, who was established chief and superior, being of 
a seditious nature and turbulent spirit, armed with audacity, 
spoke so boldly to the Papists to deprive Queen Elizabeth of 
her sceptre, that some of them were once determined to 
accuse and put him into the hands of justice. Campian 
though something more modest, presumed to challenge by a 
writing the ministers of the Church of England to dispute 
with him/' &c. &c. 

In the ' Privy Council Records ' we find the following 
notices of proceedings against Campion and his associates : 

"Greenwich, 26 July, 1581. 
" Present — Lord Chancellor, Earl of Leycester, and five 
others. 

" A warrant to Sir Thomas Heneage, Knight, Treasurer of 
Her Majesty's chamber, to pay unto the Sheriff of Berkshire 
for bringing up of one Edmund Campion, a Jesuit, three 
other Popish priests, and thirteeD other persons, taken in 
that shire, and by their Lordships' order committed to the 
Tower, the sum of £33. ,n 

1 'Privy Council Registers, Elizabeth/ vol. v. 



AMYE EOBSART. 79 

"Greenwich, 30 July, 1581. 

" Present — Lord Chamberlain, Earl of Leycester, and four 
others. 

"A Letter to Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower, D. Hammond, 
Robert Beale, and Thomas Norton, advertising them how 
they are further to proceed with Campion, in manner as 
follow eth : 

" First, they shall demand of him whether he acknow- 
ledged himself to be Her Majesty's subject or no ; which, 
if he shall confess, &c, then shall they minister unto him a 
corporal oath upon a Bible of St. Hierome's translation, for 
avoiding of loss of time, and also of further cavil to be by 
him made hereafter, to answer truly and directly to such 
things as by them shall be demanded of him, &c. And upon 
perusing of his former examinations and consideration of 
such points where he denies answer, and those which their 
Lordships are desirous to have added to his former interroga- 
tories, contained in a paper herewith sent unto them. They 
are required to proceed to his further examination ; and in 
case he continues wilfully [not] to tell the truth, then to deal 
with him by the rack. 

" They are also required to take his answers to such arti- 
cles as are herewith sent unto them touching one Rochfort, 
an Irishman. With the two other priests they are required 
likewise to proceed in propounding unto them the question of 
their allegiance to Her Majesty, and in ministering an oath 
to them to declare where they have lain, and whether there 
were a mass said in Mrs. Yates' house, or no, at their last 
being there. And if they shall find them to halt, then to put 
them in fear of the torture, &c. And after this Mr. Lieu- 
tenant is required to send to the Knight Marshal to remain 
under his charge, for which purpose he shall receive their 
Lordships' warrant unto him to receive them. 

"Touching Weblin and Masfeld offering to conform them- 
selves, after they shall have caused them both to be dealt 
with by some godly and learned preachers, who upon con- 



80 AMYE ROBSART. 

ference may persuade them voluntarily, in some open place, 
to acknowledge their former error and offence, and promise 
to come to the Church, and receive the sacraments by the 
laws appointed; they may upon bonds taken of either of 
them to be of good behaviour towards Her Majesty's laws 
set them at liberty. 

" Postscript. — Whereas we are given to understand that 
you, Mr. D. Hammond, have, out of Sander's book, * De 
Monarchia Ecclise/ and ( Bristow's Motives/ drawn certain 
points touching the acknowledgment of their allegiance 
towards Her Majesty; we think it good that you propound 
the same to Campion and the priests, requiring their direct 
answer to the same. 1 

"At Greenwich, 2d August, 1581. 

(c Present — Earl of Leycester and four others. 

" A letter to Sir John Byron, Sheriff of Lancaster, Sir 
Edmund Trafford, or any of them, requiring them forthwith, 
&c, to repair into the dwelling-houses of certain persons in 
their Lordship's letter mentioned, having been harbourers of 
Edmund Campion, lately sent from Rome, contrary to Her 
Majesty's proclamation, and to cause the said persons to be 
examined, whether the said Campion hath been there or no ; 
whether he said mass there, together with such other par- 
ticularities as they shall think meet to be inquired of. And 
further, to cause the said houses to be searched for books and 
other suspicious stuff; and especially the house of Richard 
Houghton, where, it is said, the said Campion left his books ; 
and to inquire what is become of the said books ; and also of 
Ralph Emerson, his man ; and to understand from whence 
he came thither, how he was accompanied, and whither he 
went, and what things the said Campion or Emerson carried 
thence. Of all which they are required to advertise the 
Earl of Derby, to the intent his Lordship may assist them 
further, as need shall require, and hereof to advertise their 
Lordships. 

1 'Privy Council Registers. Elizabeth,' vol. v. 



AMYE ROBS ART. 81 

" A letter to the Earl of Derby, advertising his Lordship of 
their Lordships' said letters written unto the aforesaid Sheriff 
of Lancaster, &c, for the apprehending, examining, and 
searching of the houses of the parties in the said letter speci- 
fied. Requiring his Lordship to give them his assistance in 
the said service, as need shall require. 1 

" At Greenwich, 14th August, 1581, 
" Present — Lord Treasurer, Lord Chamberlain, Leycester, 
and two others. 

" A letter to Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower, Mr. D. Ham- 
mond, and Robert Beale, or to any three or two of them, 
thanking them for their pains taken in the examinations 
taken of Campion, and further requiring Mr. Lieutenant to 
remove Filby and Jacob unto the prison of the Marshalsea. 
They are required to examine Campion, Peters, and Ford, 
who refuse to confess whether they have said any masses or 
no ; whom they have confessed, and where Parsons and the 
other priests be ; touching those points, and to put them in 
fear of the torture, if they shall refuse to answer directly 
thereto. 2 

"Campion and other Romish Priests were this year [1581] 
executed for sedition, and attempting the ruin of the Queen 
and her kingdom." 3 

Hatton and Leicester lived on great terms of friendship 
with each other. Nicolas, in his life of Hatton, says that, in 
1572, scandal (in reference to the Queen's regard for both 
of them) was equally rife to one as to the other. In August 
1570, several persons were tried, and some executed at 
Xorwich, for treasonable speeches and designs. <( They had 
set out four proclamations ; one was touching the wantonness 
of the Court," and one of the conspirators, called Marsham, 
having said that "my Lord of Leicester had two children 
by the Queen," was sentenced to lose both his ears or pay 
a fine of one hundred pounds. 4 

1 P. C. R. Eliz., vol. v. 2 Ibid. 

3 Camden's 'Annals of Elizabeth,' 1625. 

4 Lodge's 'Illustrations Br. Historv,' 8vo, vol. i. See also Murdin's 'State 

6 



82 AMYE ROBSART. 

To show that Leicester was not alone in the slanderous 
reports made against him, Lord Burghley complains of the 
same thing, in a letter to his friend and steward, William 
Herle, under date 14th August, 1585. 

" By your letter of the 1 1th, I perceive that you have 
heard the vile, false, and devilish exclamations and execra- 
tions [made] me by such as I know not, and therefore I can 
less judge what to think of them, in their degrees of the 
malice, and the causes thereof. . . . 

" I am therefore determined to adhere to God, my only 
Patron, and shall be ready to answer all spirits, wheresoever 
I may find them blasting, and doubt not but if they would 
to myself but breathe any of these speeches, in presence 
of any honest company, I would with apparent truth con- 
found their blasphemies. And therefore as you show your- 
self friendly in reporting these villanies to me, so you might 
show me friendship in effect, to my good, if you would 
advise them to charge me herewith, and if they do think me 
guilty hereof, they need not fear to accuse me, for I am not 
worthy to continue in this place, but I will yield myself 
worthy not only to be removed, but to be punished for an 
example to others, that should not abuse Her Majesty, and 
the office I hold. If they cannot prove all the lies they 
utter, let them make of any one point, wherewith to prove 
me guilty of falsehood, of injustice, of bribery, of dissimula- 
tion, of double-dealing in advice in Council, either with her 
Majesty or. with the Counsellors; let them charge me in any 
point that I have not dealt as earnestly for the Queen's 
Majesty, to aid the afflicted in the Low Country, to withstand 
the increasing power of the King of Spain, the assurance of 
the King of Scots, to be tied to her Majesty with reward, 
yea, with the greatest pension than any other hath, if in 
any of these I may be proved to have been behind or slower 
than any, in a discreet manner, as becometh a servant and a 
counsellor. I will myself worthy of perpetual reproach, as 

Papers' as to the traitorous speeches of Mather, and Berney's confession to 
Leicester. 



AM YE ROBS ART. 83 

though I were guilty of all that they use to bluster against 
me. 

" They that say that in a rash and malicious mockery, 
that England has become ' Kegnum Cecilianum/ may please 
their own cankered humour with such a device, but if my 
actions be considered, if there be any cause given by me of 
such a nickname, there may be found out in many others 
juster causes to attribute other names than mine/' 

He then goes on to speak of his houses, and the expenses 
he has been at in building, and in entertaining the Queen 
at Theobalds, and the lands he sold to enable him to build, 
lands that he had of " good King Edward 6th." " My house 
of Burghley is of my mother's inheritance, who liveth and is 
the owner of it, and I but a farmer." His charges at Court 
and in keeping house, " by report of suitors at more than any 
counsellor in England." His fees as Treasurer only the 
same as the last " four hundred years, whereas the Chan- 
cellor and others hath been doubly augmented within these 
few years, and these I do affirm that my fees of my trea- 
surership doth not answer to my charge of my stable, I mean 
not my table ; and in my household, I do seldom feed less 
than one hundred persons." 

Addressed 

"To my loving friend, Wm. Herle." 

On a copy of another letter is endorsed, 

"1585. Letters to Wm. Herle from the Lord Burghley, 
Lord Treasurer of England, found amongst his writings, and 
brought to the Earl of Leycester at the death of Herle/' 
apparently in Burghley's writing. 1 

Dr. Bliss, in his notes to Wood's c Athense Oxoniensis,' 
under the article of " Persons," vol. ii, 4to, p. 74, thus 
observes : 

"It is rather singular that before I had resided in the 
University a fortnight, chance threw in my way a MS, 
1 'Domestic Papers,' State Paper Office. 



84 AMYE ROBSART. 

copy of the "Ghost/' which contained a supplement of a very 
curious and interesting nature. This MS. was delivered to 
a person in Oxford, with orders to transcribe it, and from the 
marks on the volume, I conjecture it came from some college 
library. The transcriber could not read it, and brought it 
to me for assistance in deciphering the abbreviations. I 
immediately knew it to be a MS. copy of Leycester's 
" Ghost," and lent the writer my own printed copy, on con- 
dition of being allowed to transcribe the supplement. The 
person who paid for his transcript has probably been deceived 
by the substitution of a text already printed (for I do not 
accuse the transcriber of a collation of the text, although I 
recommended it to him), whilst I obtained the following con- 
temporary statement. 

" The author hath omitted the end of the Earl, the which 
may thus and truly be supplied : the Countess Lettice fell 
in love with Christopher Blunt, Gent., of the Earl's horse, 
and they had many secret meetings, and much wanton fami- 
liarity, the which being discovered by the Earl, to prevent 
the pursuit thereof, when General of the Low Countries, 
he took Blunt with him, and there purposed to have him 
made away, and for this plot there was a ruffian of Bur- 
gundy suborned, who, watching him one night going to his 
lodging at the Hague, followed him, and struck at his head 
with a halbert or battle-axe, intending to cleave his head. But 
the axe glanced, and withal pared off a great piece of Blunt's 
skull ; which wound was very dangerous and long in healing, 
but he recovered, and afterwards married the Countess, who 
took this so ill, as that she, with Blunt, deliberated and 
resolved to dispatch the Earl. The Earl, not patient of the 
great wrong of his wife, purposed to carry her to Kenilworth, 
and to leave her there until her death by natural or by 
violent means, but rather by the last. The Countess, also, 
having suspicion or some secret intelligence of this treachery 
against her, provided artificial means to prevent the Earl, 
which was by a cordial, the which she had no fit opportunity 
to offer him till he came to Cornbury Hall, in Oxfordshire, 
where the Earl, after his gluttonous manner, surfeiting with 



AM YE ROBS ART. 85 

excessive eating and drinking, fell so ill that he was forced to 
stay there. Then the deadly cordial was propounded unto 
him by the Countess. As Mr. William Haynes, sometime 
the Earl's page, and then a gentleman of his chamber, told 
me, who protested he saw her give that fatal cup to the Earl, 
which was his last draught, and an end of his plot against 
the Countess, and of his journey, and of himself ; and so 
Fraudis fraude sua prenditur artifex." Which may be thus 
Englished : ' The cunning deviser of deceit contracted for, is 
taken in his own snare? 



SIR RICHARD VARNEY OR VERNEY, 

OF WARWICKSHIRE. 

But little information has been handed down to us in 
reference to Sir Richard Varney, who is so conspicuously 
mixed up with the death of Amye Robsart, according to the 
1 Commonwealth ' story, transferred by Ashmole to his 
county history of Berkshire, and afterwards forming one of 
the principal characters in Sir Walter Scott's romance of 
' Kenilworth.'' It is gratifying to be able to trace out some 
portion of his lineage, to show who and what he was, 
and thereby somewhat to redeem his character from the 
obloquy which has been cast upon him by most writers who 
have preceded us. Not so, however, with Mr. Bartlett, 
who, in his remarks on Scott's statements in ( Kenilworth/ 1 
observes, " As regards Sir Richard Varney and the accom- 
plice who, it is said, by Leicester's direction, was privately 
made away with in prison, their names must have originated 
with other groundless assertions of the period, as no allusion 
whatever is made to them in the correspondence respecting 
the death, or in any authenticated document." 

Mr. Pettigrew, in his f Inquiry into the Particulars con- 
nected with the Death of Amye Robsart/ doubts the existence 

1 Bartlett's ' Historical and Descriptive Account of Cumnor Place.' 8vo, 
London, 1850. 



86 AMYE ROBSART. 

even of such a person as Varney, so blackened had been his 
character by all who had referred to him, pointing him out 
as one of the greatest monsters in existence, capable of any 
crime ; to such an extent was he vilified, that Mr. Pettigrew 
conceived that such a character was nothing more than a 
myth. He states — 

" Of Sir Richard Varney I can ascertain no particulars. 
He is mentioned, in no measured terms, as an instigator to 
baseness, as the chief prompter to the murderous design, and 
as having been left with a man-servant, an underling, and 
Anthony Forster, to effect the diabolical business. We know 
nothing of Varney, save the mention of him in Ashmole's 
narrative, drawn by the Jesuit, as I have shown in 'Leycester's 
Commonwealth, 3 and by the very important role he is made to 
play in the novel of ' Kenilworth. 3 His name does not occur 
in any authentic documents connected with Sir Robert 
Dudley or Amy Robsart, nor indeed does he appear to have 
had any real existence." 1 

The statements made in ( Leycester's Commonwealth/ as 
to the participation of Sir Richard Varney in the death of 
Amye Robsart, so grossly scurrilous, are unsupported by any 
evidence whatever, and are entirely refuted by the corre- 
spondence in reference to the coroner's inquest, where no 
mention is made that Varney was present at Cumnor, either 
before the death or at the inquest ; in fact, throughout that 
correspondence his name is not even mentioned. 

Though we have been unable to find any particulars of the 
life of Sir Richard Varney, we fortunately are enabled to 
throw some light on his family connections by the following 
pedigrees, accompanied by two letters from Leycester to 
Burghley in 1574-75, having immediate reference to the 
grandson of Sir Richard Varney, who bore the same name — 
sufficient, we trust, to remove from the character of Sir 

1 ' Inquiry read at the Congress of the British Archaeological Association, 
held at Newbury in 1859, being a refutation of the calumnies charged against 
Sir Robert Dudley, K.G., Anthony Forster, and others.' 8vo. London, 1859. 



AMYE ROBSART. 87 

Richard the obloquy so infamously heaped upon him. Of 
the connexions by marriage of his immediate descendants 
some very interesting particulars have been collected, which 
are here presented to the reader, in connection with the 
pedigrees which follow. 

In speaking of Varney, Scott says, " Varney, who sprung 
from an ancient but somewhat decayed family, was the 
Earl's page during his earlier and more obscure fortunes, 
and, faithful to him in adversity, had afterwards contrived to 
render himself no less useful to him in his rapid and splendid 
advance to fortune; thus establishing in him an interest, 
resting both on present and past services, which rendered 
him an almost indispensable sharer of his confidence." 

Sir Richard Varney was Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1562 
(4 Eliz.) ; l in what year he died we have no record, but pre- 
sume before 1574, as in the month of July of that year we 
have a letter from Leycester in reference to the wardship 
of " young Varney," who was Sheriff of Warwickshire in 
1591 (33 Eliz.), 2 afterwards knighted, and again Sheriff of 
that County in 1605 (3 Jas. I.). 3 It was the latter who 
married Margaret, daughter of Sir Fulke Greville (father of 
the first Lord Brooke), during the latter part of Elizabeth's 
reign, and who, by that marriage, became the ancestor of 
the present Lord Willoughby de Broke. 

The family of Verney descended from William de Verney, 
who lived temp. Hen. I. 



BARON WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE. 

1503. Robert Willoughby, son and heir of Robert Wil- 
loughby, Baron Willoughby de Broke, summoned to Parlia- 
ment fr. 3 Hen. VIII. (1511) to 7 Hen. VIII. (1515)— ob. 
1522. s. p. m. 

Edward, eldest son of the above, d. vit. pat. s. p. m. previous 

1 2 3 Dugdale's Warwickshire. 



88 AxMYE ROBSART. 

to 1522, left two daughters; Elizabeth, the eldest, m. Sir 
Fulke Greville. The barony being in abeyance, in 1696 it 
was claimed by, and allowed to, — 

Richard Verney, second son and heir to Sir Greville 
Verney, who was son and heir of Sir Richard Verney, by 
Margaret, sister and sole heir of Fulke Greville, 1st Baron 
Broke. This Richard Verney d. in 1711. 

Thus— 

Sir Richard Verney 1 = Margaret, sister and sole heir of Fulke Greville, 

1st Lord Broke, who was son and heir 
of Sir Fulke Greville, who m. Elizabeth 
Willoughby, as above. 



Sir Greville Verney = 



I 

Richard Verney, second son, = 

summoned to parliament 

as Lord Willoughby de 

Broke, in 1691; died 1711. 

In the church at Norton, near Daventry, is a monument thus inscribed — 
" Die Novem., Anno Dom. 1633. 

"Elizabeth, 3rd daughter of Richard Verney, de Compton Verney, in 
Com. Warw., Milit., by Margaret his wife, sister and heir of Fulco Grevill, 
late Baron Brooke de Beauchamps Court, in Com. Warw." 

Margaret, daughter of Sir Richard Varnet, of Compton, in Com. 
Warw., Knt., married Robert Shurley, of Isfield, Esq., eldest son of Sir Geo. 
Shurley, Chief Justice in Ireland. She was living in 1633. 3 



1 The " Young Varney" mentioned in Leycester's letter to Burghley. 

2 Nicholas' ' Synopsis of the Peerage,' vol. ii, p. 692. 

3 'Visitation of Sussex, 1633-4.' Harleian MSS., 6164. 



AMYE ROBSART. 



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90 AMYE ROBSART. 

BARON WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE. 

{From Banks's ' Dormant and 'Extinct Baronetage,' Vol. II, p. 609.) 



Sir Richard Verney, Knt. 



Margaret, sole daughter and heir of Sir Fulke 
Greville, and heir to her brother, Fulke 
Greville, first Baron Brooke. 



I I 

Sir Greville Verney, Other issue, 

eldest son. 



I i ~1 

Greville Verney. John, (2nd) Sir Richard Verney, Knt., allowed 

oh. infans. on claim the Barony of Willoughby 

de Broke, anno 1695-6. Ob. 1711. 
I 
Greville Verney. 



William, only son, 
died, unmarried, 1669. 

Present (1868) Baeon Willotjghby de Bkoke, Henry Verney, 10th Baron, 
who succeeded in 1862. 



BARON AND EARL BROOKE AND EARL OF 
WARWICK. 

Margaret, daughter of Sir Fulke Greville (father of the 
first Lord Brooke) , tempe Elizabeth and James I., married 
Sir Richard Verney, 1 ancestor of the present Lord Wil- 
loughby of Broke. 

It was Sir Fulke (the brother of this Margaret) who 
obtained, 2nd James I., "a grant of Warwick Castle, with 
the gardens and other dependencies about it. He then found 
it in a ruinous condition, the towers and other strong places 
of it being used for the common gaol of the county ; but at 
an expense of about ^620,000 he repaired and adorned it for 

1 Sir Richard Verney was Sheriff of Warwickshire 33 Eliz., and again 3 
James I. — Dusrdale's ' Warwickshire.' 



AMYE ROBSART. 91 

the seat of his family. Moreover, he made a purchase of the 
Temple grounds adjoining, and beautified them with large 
and stately plantations, with the intention, as it would seem, 
to put in execution the design which George, Duke of 
Clarence, formerly had of making a park of them under his 
windows ; a design which Francis, the present Earl Brooke 
and Earl of Warwick, since he became lord of the manor, 
has been able to accomplish. Upon the whole, he so repaired 
this great and venerable but ruinous castle, as to render it 
(as Dugdale says) not only a place of great strength, but 
extraordinary delight, with most pleasant gardens, walks, and 
thickets, such as this part of England can hardly parallel ; so 
that now it is the most princely seat that is within the 
midland parts of this realm. ,n 

Francis Greville, son and heir of William, 7th Baron 
Brooke, who died in 1727, was created Earl Brooke of 
Warwick Castle in 1746, and Earl Warwick in 1759; he 
died in 1773, and was succeeded by his son — 

George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick, who died in 
1816, and was succeeded by — 

Henry Bichard Greville, as 3rd Earl of Warwick ; he 
died in 1853, and was succeeded by the present Earl, George 
Guy. 2 

Whether any or what relation Sir Bichard Verney bore to 
the family of the Verney s of Fleetmarston, Co. Bucks, after- 
wards of Penley, Co. Herts, and ultimately of Middle 
Claydon, Co. Bucks, we have not been able to discover. A 
pedigree of this family, commencing in 1216, which is 
attached to the letters and papers of the Verney family pub- 
lished by the Camden Society, 3 does not give any reference to 

1 Collins's ' Peerage/ vol. iv, 3-17-8. 

2 Nicholas's ' Synopsis of the Peerage,' vol. i, p. 87 ; and ' Burke's Dictionary 
of Heraldry. 5 

3 ' Letters and Papers of the Verney family down to the end of the year 
1689, printed from the original MSS. in the possession of Sir Harry Verney, 
Bart.' Edited hy John Bruce, Esq. 1853. 



92 AM YE ROBS ART. 

the Verneys of Warwickshire, from whom Sir Richard was 
descended. 

The following are the letters from Leycester to Burghley 
in reference to "young Varney :" 

JEarl of Leycester to Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer. 

" Woodstock ; 30 July, 1574. {Original.) 

" Mt vert good Lord, — 

" I have thought good to let you understand, that where 
of late I sent unto your Lordship, my solicitor, Nutthall, touching 
the lands of young Varney, by reason there is hitherto no order 
taken, nor any man appointed for the looking thereunto, both 
the lands and the house go to much rack, and if speedy remedy 
be not provided, it cannot but greatly turn to the loss and harm 
of the child. The meadows stand yet undealt withal, whereby 
the hay of the ground is like to be utterly spoiled, for want of 
some that should look to the inninge of it. And I, for my part, 
albeit divers have called upon me (for that your Lordship granted 
unto me the wardship of the child), to take some order in it, yet 
have forborne still to do anything, expecting some direction from 
your Lordship. And now very lately I understand by Sir Thomas 
Lucye, 1 there be divers that offer to make entries upon the land 
by virtue of statutes and other foolish bonds made by his father 
in his lifetime ; wherein your Lordship is to take some speedy 
order, otherwise it cannot but turn to the child's undoing, or 
extreme prejudice, at the least. But not perceiving any man 
appointed, neither yet any of his friends very willing to meddle 
with the land, considering how foolishly the late father hath left 
the whole encumbered, I have thought good for the young child's 
sake to put your Lordship in remembrance, that the matter, in 
time for his more benefit hereafter, may be looked into presently, 
which if your Lordship cannot find any that will carefully deal for 
him, I will myself take what charge thereof you will require or 

1 The Justice Shallow of Shakespeare ; uncle to young Varney. 



AMYE ROBSART. 93 

appoint, upon the survey of such as your Lordship shall assign for 
it, which for the poor child's sake, I pray your Lordship may be 
in as convenient time as the cause requireth, for all goeth almost 
to spoil. And so I wish your Lordship right heartily to farewell. 
From Woodstock this 30th of July, 1574. 

" Tour Lordship's most assured, 

"B. Leycester." 
(Superscribed) 
" To the Eight Honorable, my very good 
Lord, the Lord Treasurer of England." 1 



Earl of Leicester to Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer. 

" Tudington ; 16 June, 1575. {Holograph.) 

" My very good Lord, — 

" I have sent you the note the Queen's Majesty talked 
with you of at Hatfield, which I could not come by before I came 
hither to Tudington, for that my coffers were gone thither with 
some of my stuff. Your Lordship will better conceive of the 
matter than I can, and may have conference with such as are able 
to inform you the ways to further such a plot. 2 

" I have one other matter to request your Lordship's order for, 
before the term ends ; it is for young Varuey, whom your Lord- 
ship, I thank you, did grant unto me, 3 and I assure your Lordship 
I desired him only for the good of that house, knowing that he 
was likely to receive else much harm, and as I was desirous and 
willing to make offer of his marriage to your Lordship for one of 
Mr. Cave's daughters, your nieces, before any other, so am I still 

1 Lansdowne MSS. B. Museum, vol. 18. 

2 In reference to regulating the prices of some " wares," from which 
revenue was derived. 

3 " As guardian of one of the tenants of the Crown, who was a minor, this 
would give him the profits of the lands till the heir should reach the age of 
twenty-one. It was an arrangement which, at the same time, would be 
accounted a favor shown to the heir, as taking him out of the hands of the 
officers of the Crown and leaving him in the care of a friend of his late 
father."— Craik. 



94 AMYE ROBSART. 

desirous that match should take place, as well for the 
worship of the house as chiefly the alliance with your Lordship, 
by whose means he may receive his greatest benefit, and because 
your Lordship shall perceive my meaning was wholly for the 
young child's benefit to have him, even as I offered his match in 
marriage with your Lordship, hereafter if Grod give liking between 
the parties, so did I as freely offer all other things that were to 
be looked unto of his to Sir Thomas Lucy, his uncle, who I know 
hath loved the father and grandfather, and would willingly 
further this, yet upon perusing the state of things as they stand, 
would by no means deal with them, neither take the charge of 
them. I offered likewise to any other of his nearest kin the 
same with all commodities that they would make or that I could 
procure, at your Lordship's hands, for them, also that his house 
and other things might be well governed and preserved for the 
young man. There was none would meddle with them, and I 
protest to God (my Lord) they should have had all, and even as 
I had it from your Lordship, which indeed I thought could not 
be but some commodity to such as should have it at such reason- 
able rates as you use to let such things. Yet in the end all his 
own friends refusing, as I tell your Lordship, to deal with it, I 
was driven to desire and entreat Sir John Hibbotts to take it in 
hand, always foreseeing he should not hinder himself, or be a 
loser ; whereupon, at my request, he hath so done, and we have had 
such a business with the mother 1 of the young boy as I assure 
your Lordship she wearied us all, and without your lordship sets 
your favorable help hereafter, as occasion shall serve justly, the 
boy shall scant, while he lives, be able to keep the countenance 
of a mere gentleman, and yet is his living worth together well a 
thousand marks a year. But his father, 2 the unthrift, that your 
Lordship and I had so much to do withal, hath made such 
bargains and leases, and in debt £2000 when he died, whereby 
except the young boy find good friends, when he comes to man's 
estate, he shall have all his lands subject to bonds and forfeitures, 
wherefore Sir John, being very careful to preserve all, as much 
as may be possible, I think will, at your coming to Kenilworth, 
confer with your Lordship how some order may be taken, whereby 

1 Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Southwell, and sister of Elizabeth, who, 
disguised as a page, accompanied Sir Robert Dudley to Italy, and was after- 
wards, by a dispensation of the Pope, married to him. 

2 Son of the Sir Richard Varney mentioned by Sir Walter Scott. 



AMYE ROBSART. 95 

some of his debts may in this time be paid, and so the child less 
burdened hereafter, and also Sir John hath great care in bringing 
him up, and so have I chiefly, till he be a little bigger to go to 
some other place to get more knowledge ; and as hitherto he hath 
had no allowance for him, so my request to your Lordship is that 
you will appoint him some reasonable portion, which I dare 
undertake at the least shall be employed toward him every way. 
And, according to my promise to your Lordship, as soon as he 
cometh to years that you shall think good to have him dealt with 
for the matter of Mr. Cave's daughter, he shall be, God willing, 
only kept for it, and as you shall think of him then meet for such 
a one so shall find all his friends, at least the chief, to deal in it 
as I know already they are most willing and desirous should take 
place. And I wish he may prove one that your Lordship may 
like so to bestow him, and then your Lordship shall have him 
even as I had him of you. Thus desiring your Lordship that this 
bearer, Clark, Sir John Hibbott's solicitor, may attend you to 
receive your pleasure herein, I will for this time commit you to 
God, and bid your Lordship most heartily farewell. From 
Tudington, this 16th of June. 

" Tour Lordship's assured friend, 

"R. Leicester." 

" I pray your Lordship send the book with your letter that 
Ellis hath, with as much speed as you may, and as your Lordship 
shall think best to write for the furtherance thereof." 

li To the Eight Honorable, my very good Lord, 
the Lord Burghley, Treasurer of England 
and Knight of the Order." 1 

1 Lansdowne MSS., Brit. Museum. 



96 AMYE ROBSART. 



ANTHONY FORSTER, OF CUMNOR PLACE. 

Bartlett, in his ( Historical Account of Cumnor Place/ 
has given a memoir of Anthony Forster as fully as could be 
collected " after the lapse of nearly three centuries P The 
reader is referred to that memoir, containing, as it does, a 
full and complete vindication of the character of Anthony 
Forster from the foul aspersions cast upon him ; in fact, 
nothing further is required to show the utter falsity of the 
charges in the ' Commonwealth/ in Ashmole's statements, 
and in Sir Walter Scott's ' Kenihvorth.' Bartlett very justly 
observes, " It is somewhat to be regretted that those authors 
who have promulgated the reports should have received as 
authentic such scandals without endeavouring to ascertain 
what proof there was for their foundation." 

With this vindication we close our account of Amye Robsart 
and the inquiries as to the various statements in relation to 
her death. 

Some very interesting observations in regard to Anthony 
Forster, his position, family connexions, his will, and distri- 
bution of his property, will be found in Mr. Pettigrew's 
' Inquiry concerning the Death of Amye Robsart/ 



END OF AMYE ROBSART. 



KENILWORTH. 



HISTORY OF KENILWORTH CASTLE, 



ACCOUNT OF THE SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT 

GIVEN TO QUEEN ELIZABETH, 
BY THE EAEL OE LEICESTER, IN 1575, 

DESCRIBED BY ROBERT LANEHAM, 

AN EYE-WITNESS. 



KENILWOBTH CASTLE. 



" Sir Wm. Dugdale says that the land'oxi which the Castle 
is situate was given by King Henry I. to a Norman named 
Geoffrey de Clinton, his Lord Chamberlain and Treasurer, 
by whom the building was first erected. By this proprietor 
also, he states, the Monastery of Black Canons of St. 
Augustine' s Order to have been instituted at the same time, 
near the Fortress. In 1172 the Castle was garrisoned by 
King Henry II., to withstand the unnatural insurrection of 
his eldest son Henry, who was assisted by Louis VIL, King 
of France, and several of the English barons.* Although it is 
by no means certain that the building again reverted to the 
Clintons, yet, early in the reign of John, Henry Clinton, the 
grandson of the founder, released to that King all his interest 
in the Castle and lands. The son of the last possessor, who 
also bore his father's name, engaged himself in the wars of 
the tumultuous Barons during the reigns of John and 
Henry III. ; but, in ]217, upon his submission to the latter 
monarch, he had livery of his father's land at Kenilworth. 
This appears to have been the last of the Clintons who held 
this estate. The castle had long been in the hands of the 
Crown, and was held for it by the successive Sheriffs for the 
Counties of Warwick and Leicester. In 1243 Henry III. 
constituted Simon Montfort, Earl of Leicester, Governor of 
Kenilworth Castle; and ten years afterwards granted it to 
him and his wife, Eleanor a, 1 for their lives. This haughty 
and ambitious Baron was Commander-in-Chief of the insur- 
rection against Henry III. concerning Magna Charta; and 
soon after his receiving the grant of this castle, himself and 

1 Eleanora his wife, sister of Hen. III. 



102 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

his comrades met in arms at Oxford. The conclusion of this 
convocation was, that they marched against the Royal army, 
and Simon de Montfort was slain at the battle of Evesham, on 
5th August, 1265. It is to the warlike disposition and 
death of this Baron that the Lady of the Lake alludes in her 
verses, where she says — 

" The Earl, Sir Mountfort's force, gave me no heart." 

" Kenil worth Castle, in the interim, was defended by 
Simon de Montfort the younger, son of the late Earl ; and 
when the King's forces were besieging it, he, perceiving that 
it must shortly be surrendered, retired privately into Erance, 
to raise more soldiers in aid of the Baron's designs. In his 
absence Henry de Hastings was left Governor, whom he 
assured of a certain and early relief; but the King's rein- 
forcements arriving first, after much doubt and delay the 
Castle was yielded to Henry III., on the feast of St. Thomas, 
December 21st, 1265. About the end of the siege, which 
lasted six months, and amounted to a very considerable sum, 
the King, by the advice of Ottobon, the Papal Legate, called 
a convention at Kenilworth, at which it was determined that 
persons who had forfeited their lands in the late rebellion 
might redeem them by a fine, to be paid to such as then pos- 
sessed them. Some exceptions were, however, made, which 
were, the wife and children of the said Earl of Leicester; 
Robert Ferrers, Earl of Derby; Henry de Hastings, men- 
tioned above ; and those who wounded the King's messenger 
when he summoned Kenilworth Castle to surrender. On all 
these were imposed either heavier fines or imprisonment ; and 
the Act by which the foregoing particulars were declared was 
called Dictum de Kenilworth, an entire copy of which may be 
found in some of the ancient statute books, or in the f Statutes 
of the Realm,' printed by command, 1820. 1 Laneham also 
alludes to the statute of Kenilworth, in the following passage 
of his letter : — ( A singular pattern of humanity may he be 
well unto us towards all degrees; of honour toward high 
estates, and chiefly whereby we may learn in what dignity, 

1 Vol. i, p. 12. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 103 

worship, and reverence, her Highness is to be esteemed, 
honoured, and received, that was never, indeed, more condignly 
done than here ; so, as neither by the builders at first, nor by 
the Edict of Pacification after, was ever Kenilworth more 
ennobled than by this, his Lordship's receiving her Highness 
here now.'' In the original edition of Laneham is the follow- 
ing marginal note to this passage : — f 1266, An. 50, Hen. Ill/ 
Immediately after the siege and surrender of the Castle, 
Philip Marmion, the first Lord of Scrivelsby and Tamworth, 
was made Constable by the King ; but on the 16th of January, 
1267, it was conferred, with many privileges, upon Edmund 
Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, second son of the King, and 
to his lawful heirs. In 1296, Edmund died at Bayonne, and 
was succeeded by his eldest son Thomas, in whose time 
Roger Mortimer held at Kenilworth the feast of the Round 
Table. This festival, according to Dugdale, took place in 
1378 ; and he thus describes it : — i The same year I find that 
there was a great and famous concourse of noble persons 
here at Kenilworth, called the Round Table, consisting of an 
hundred knights, and as many ladies ; whereunto divers re- 
paired from foreign parts for the exercise of arms, viz., tilting 
and martial tournaments ; and the ladies dancing, who were 
clad in silken mantles, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, 
being the chief, and the occasion thereof; which exercises 
began on the eve of St. Matthew the Apostle (21st Septem- 
ber), and continued till the morrow after Michaelmas day ' 
(30th). 1 Roger Mortimer appears to have been one of the 
most fashionable gallants of his time, and his son Geoffrey 
named him ' The King of Folly/ But Thomas, Earl of Lan- 
caster, joined the baronial party against the favorites of King 
Edward II., namely, Pierce Gaveston and the two Spencers ; 
and although the King once pardoned him, and restored 
his forfeited lands, yet in 1322 he was taken in arms at 
the battle of Boroughbridge, and a few days after was 
beheaded. 

" Kenilworth Castle was next delivered into the hands of 
John de Somery, Baron of Dudley ; Ralph, Lord Basset of 

1 ' Autiq. of Warwicksh.,' edit, by Dr. Thomas, 1730, vol. i, 247. 



104 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Drayton; and Ranulph de Charun, for the King's use; but 
when the fortunes of King Edward were overthrown, his offi- 
cers were expelled, and himself brought to the fortress as a 
prisoner in the power of Henry, brother of the late possessor, 
and others of his infamous fellow-subjects. After the cruel 
death of Edward II., at Berkeley Castle, whither he was con- 
veyed from Kenilworth, the detestable Henry, Earl of Lan- 
caster, was restored to his brother's possessions ; and from 
him the castle descended, through his son and granddaughter, 
to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. At length the pro- 
perty of Kenilworth once more reverted to the Crown, by 
passing to the Duke's son, Henry of Bolingbroke, who after- 
wards became Henry IV. 1 This castle thus came a third 
time into the hands of the Crown. 

Henry VII. united it to the Dukedom of Cornwall; and 
his son, Henry VIII., was at a considerable expense in 
repairing and ornamenting it. In 26th of Henry VIII., the 
monastery was valued at £643 14s. 9d. 29th Henry VIII. 
— On the 15th April, the Monastery of Kenilworth was 
surrendered by Simon Jekys, the last abbot, and sixteen 
monks, who had pensions allowed them by the King. 

The Abbey lands were granted by Henry VIII. to Sir 
Andrew Flamoke, whose granddaughter and sole heiress 
carried them by marriage to John Colbourn, Esq., who 
afterwards buying some horses that had been stolen out of 
Lord Leicester's stables, was so much frightened by the 
threats of the Earl, that he was glad to make his peace by 
giving up the lands to him on easy terms, and they have 
ever since been annexed to the domain of the castle. 

By the following letter, and the extract from the Privy 
Council Register, vol. 2, (Mary,) which immediately follows, 
it appears that Kenilworth was granted to Sir John Dudley, 
a fact which I have not seen mentioned by any writer. 

1 From c Glossarial Notes to Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth 
Castle,' 12mo, 1821. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 105 



Sir John Dudley {afterwards Duke of Northumberland) to 
Cromwell, Lord Keeper, 21st March, 153 [ ] - 1 

" Please it your Lordship ; so it is that within two or three days 
after my coming home to Dudley, Andrew Flamoke 2 and his son 
came thither to me, and the same night sickened both in a bed in 
my house, and by the next day at night, the son was dead full of 
the marks, and the father hath a blain. 3 And no way with him 
but on as they that keepeth him can conjecture ; they came both 
out of Gloucestershire from Mr. Poyntz, and whether they brought 
it from thence or by the way, Grod knoweth, for this country was 
as clear before their coming as any county in England. If 
it might please your good Lordship to be so good Lord unto 
me to be a meane for me to the King's highness for the office of 
Kenilworth, I were much bound to your Lordship, if not, your 
Lordship may do your pleasure for any other that you shall think 
meeter for it, for no man hath knowledge hereof by me but your 
Lordship. And sorry I am (as knoweth Grod) to send you word 
of such news, fof the King's highness shall lose a tall man of him. 
His son died this last night, and he himself both raveth and hath 
the blain. No more to your Lordship at this time, but the 
merciful Lord have you in his merciful keeping, and all yours. 
Scribbled in haste, as appeareth, the 21st of March in the morning, 
with the rude hand of your most bounden through life. 

"John Dudley. 
(Superscribed) 
" To the Eight Honorable and his singular good 

Lord, my Lord Cromwell, Lord Keeper of the 

Privy Seal, in haste." 

" At Westminster, the 8th Oct., 1553. 

" A letter to the Lord Rich and other the Commissioners 
for the attainted goods, to deliver unto the Duchess of Somer- 
set, or to such as she shall send to receive the same, by bill 
indented, all such household stuff as remaineth in Kenil- 
worth, lately belonging to the late Duke of Northumberland, 



1 State Paper Office, London. 

' : An officer in the navy acting under Sir John, when high admiral. 

3 Smallpox or plague. 



106 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

and to send hither the said bill of the parcels that shall be 
delivered, to the end it may be considered whether the same 
be sufficient, or too much, for her furniture." 1 

Kenil worth, after the attainder of the Duke of Northum- 
berland, descended to Queen Mary, and then to her sister 
Elizabeth, who, on the 9th June, 1563, granted it, with all 
the royalties belonging to it, to Robert Dudley, fifth son of 
the Duke of Northumberland, who on the 28th Sept., 1564, 
was created Baron of Denbigh, and, the day following, Earl 
of Leicester. 

" It was under this haughty favorite that Kenil worth 
reached the summit of its grandeur. He, in 1571, erected 
the large pile of buildings on the south side of the inner court 
which bears his name, and the great gate-house on the north. 
This he made the principal entrance, and changed the front of 
the castle, which before was towards the lake. He likewise 
built a tower at each end of the tilt-yard, from whence the 
ladies had an opportunity to see the noble diversion of tilting 
and barriers ; and greatly enlarged the lake, the chase, and 
the parks, which now extended over near twenty miles of 
country. He is said to have expended sixty thousand pounds 
(an immense sum in those days) 3 in these magnificent im- 
provements. Here in July (Saturday, the 9th), 1575, having 
completed all things for her reception, Lord Leicester enter- 
tained Queen Elizabeth for the space of seventeen days, with 
excessive cost and a variety of delightful shows. 3 

i( To honour this entertainment the more, there were then 
knighted here Sir Thomas Cecil (eldest son of the Lord 
Treasurer), 4 Sir Henry Cobham (brother of Lord Cobham), 
Sir Francis Stanhope, and Sir Thomas Tresham. 

" The next year ensuing Lord Leicester obtained by grant 
of the Queen a weekly market here, upon the Wednesday, 
and a fair yearly on midsummer day. 

1 Privy Council Register, Mary, vol. ii. 

2 Probably equal to £600,000 in the present age. 

3 The expense of the entertainment was estimated at £1000 per diem. 
1 Some time afterwards created Earl of Exeter. 




WW 

Robert Dudley, Earl op Leycester. 




Description oe the Plan oe the Castle as it appeared at the 
Queen's Visit in 1575. 



1 Cfesar's Tower. 

2. Lancaster Buildings. 

3. Leycester Buildings. 

4. Base Court or Outer Bal 

Hum. 

5. Lake. 

6. Chase. 

7 Gallery Tower. 
S. Tilt Yard. 



9. Mortimer's Tower. 

10. K. H. VHIth's Lodgings. 

11. Inner Court. 

12. The Strong or Mervyn's 
Tower. 

13. Kitchens. 

14. Pleasance. 

15. Great Hall. 

16. Leycester's Chamber. 

{See Appendix, p. 342.) 



i 17- Gardens. 

18. Orchard. 

19. Swan Tower. 

20. Great Gateway. 

21. Lunn's Tower. 

22. Water Tower. 

j 23. St. Lowe Tower adjoins 
Mervyn's Tower S.W. and 
is not seen in this point. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 107 

" Lord Leicester (who died in 1588) left the castle and 
estate by his will to his brother Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, 
for his life, and after his death to Sir Robert Dudley, whom 
he styled his base son. 

"The Earl of Warwick died in 1589, when Sir Robert came 
into possession, and determined to prove his legitimacy, and 
assert his claim to his father's titles. The case was thus — 
Lord Leicester privately married the widow of Lord Sheffield, 
by whom he had this son, but being apprehensive that the 
Queen would disapprove of his marriage, it was never made 
public ; this the Earl took advantage of, and married Lady 
Essex (whom he fell violently in love with), though the Lady 
Sheffield was still living, and she (Lady Essex) had interest 
enough after his death to obtain a decree in the Star-Chamber, 
by which all Sir Robert Dudley's proceedings to prove his 
father's prior marriage with the Lady Sheffield (which he 
had nearly accomplished) were put a stop to. As a sentence 
in his favour would greatly have reflected on Lady Essex's cha- 
racter, she obtained from the Lords of the Council a command 
that all the depositions should be sealed and laid up with the 
records of the Star-Chamber. The hopes of Sir Robert 
Dudley for obtaining his father's possessions being thus frus- 
trated, he left England for Italy, having received license to 
travel for three years. Some time after his departure a 
summons for his return was issued by a special writ of Privy 
Seal, which not being obeyed, the castle and lands of Kenil- 
worth were seized on for the King's use, by virtue of the 
Statute of Fugitives, 31 Edwd. III., cap. 14. Although the 
castle and lands of Kenilworth were now vested in the Lord 
Privy Seal, through the contempt of Sir Robert Dudley, yet 
the amiable Henry Frederic, Prince of Wales, was unwilling 
to make them his dwelling without a compensation to the 
ejected owner. Through the medium of special agents, in 
1811 he purchased of Sir Robert his interest for £14,500, 
to be paid within twelve months. At that time Kenilworth 
was considered one of the most magnificent places in the 
Kingdom. The Prince died on the 6th November, 1612, 
when not more than £3000 had been discharged, and even 



108 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

that amount never reached Sir Robert, as the merchant 
through whom it was paid had failed. 

" Prince Charles, as his late brother's heir, took possession 
of Kenilworth, and procured an Act of Parliament (21 Jas. I., 
cap. 12), by which Lady Alice Dudley, the wife of Sir Robert, 
was enabled, on the 4th May, 1621, to alienate all her interest 
to him in right of her jointure, for the sum of J84000, which 
was paid to her from* the Exchequer. 

ei 1626, March 15. — Charles I. granted by patent to Robert 
Carey, Earl of Monmouth, and two of his family, the custody 
of the castle, parkj and chase of Kenilworth for their joint 
and several lives ; but after the king's death Oliver Cromwell 
divided the manor between his lawless followers, who wholly 
devastated the property. At the Restoration it again passed 
into the family of the Earl of Monmouth, and after their 
leases were expired, Charles II. granted the reversion of the 
whole manor to Lawrence, Lord Hyde (second son of Lord 
Chancellor Clarendon), afterwards created Baron of Kenil- 
worth and Earl of Rochester. He died in 1711, and was 
succeeded in his titles and estate by Henry, his only son, 
who in 1723, by the death of Edward, third Earl of Clarendon, 
succeeded likewise to that earldom. He dying in 1753 
without male issue, his grand-daughter, Lady Charlotte 
Capel (by William Capel, Earl of Essex, and the Lady Jane 
Hyde, his wife), became (her mother being before dead) the 
representative of the Hyde family, and pursuant to the will 
of the said Henry, Earl of Clarendon and Rochester, she 
took the name and arms of Hyde. In 1752 she married the 
Hon. Thomas Villiers, second son of the Earl of Jersey, who 
in 1756 was created by George II. Lord Hyde of Hindon, 
County Wilts, and in 1776 by George III. Earl of Clarendon. 
He died 11th December, 1786, and was succeeded by his 
eldest son, Thomas, second Earl, who died in 1824, un- 
married, and was succeeded by his next brother, John Charles, 
the present peer. The family of the Clarendons have endea- 
voured to preserve the venerable ruins of the castle from 
farther dilapidations. 1 

1 ' History of Kenilworth, 5 Coventry, 1781, ' Kenilworth Illustrated,' 4to, 
1821. 'Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth/ 12mo, 1821. 



KEN IL WORTH CASTLE. 109 

" It will be evident from the above slight history of Kenil- 
worth that there exists a considerable difference between its 
real memoirs and those ascribed to it by Laneham. Camden, 
also, in the following passage condemns the inaccuracy of 
those legends which carry its foundation back to the Saxon 
period. ' More to the north-east/ says the learned antiquary, 
' where a number of small streams, uniting among parks, form 
a lake, which, soon after being confined in banks, makes a canal, 
stands Kenilworth, anciently called Kenelworda, though now 
corruptly called Killing worth, which gives name to a large, 
beautiful, and strong castle, surrounded by parks, not built 
by Kenulphus, Kenelmus, or Kinegilsus, as some dream, but 
as can be made to appear from records by Galfridus Clinton, 
Chamberlain to King Henry I. 1 

"The Lord Saintloive, who is mentioned as having once 
been possessor of Kenilworth, was most probably one of the 
family of Saintloe, or Saintloo, who, about the time of Eliza- 
beth, were Lords of the manor of Tormarton, in the County 
of Gloucester. Sir William Saintloe was Captain of the 
Guard to the above Sovereign. 

" Having thus given sufficient of a true history of Kenil- 
worth Castle to be a perfect guide to the readers of the works 
of Gascoigne and Laneham, it remains to give some account 
of the buildings and grounds as given by those who saw 
them in all their original splendour. Dugdale commences 
with saying that the situation is of extraordinary strength 
and largeness, as may be seen by the circuit, breadth and 
depth of the outer moats, together with the parts called 
Csesar's Tower, which, by the thickness of its walls and form 
of building, he considers to have been of the first foundation. 
In 1241, Henry III., to whom the Castle then belonged, 
made extensive improvements and repairs at Kenilworth; 
such as ceiling the chapel with wainscot, painting it, and 
making new seats for the King and Queen. The bell-tower 
also was repaired, and the south walls next the pool were 
newly erected. The Queen's chamber was likewise enlarged 
and painted. In 1391, Richard II. furnished John of Gaunt 

1 ' Camden's Britannia,' 1789, vol. ii, 329. 



110 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

with materials for improving and building at this place ; and 
he, according to Dugdale, i began the structure of all the 
buildings here, except Caesar's Tower, with the outer wall 
and turrets/ But little, however, appears to have been 
done towards making the Castle splendid as a nobleman's 
seat, or a palace fit for the visit of a Queen, until Elizabeth, 
on the 9th of June, 1562, 1 presented the building to the Earl 
of Leicester ; who, Dugdale remarks, c spared for no cost in 
enlarging, adorning, and beautifying thereof; witness that 
magnificent gate-house towards the north, where, formerly 
having been the back of the Castle, he made the front, filling 
up a great proportion of the wide and deep double ditch 
wherein the water of the pool came. And, besides that 
stately piece on the south-east part, still bearing the name 
of Leicester's Buildings, did he raise from the ground two 
goodly towers at the head of the pool, viz., the Floodgate or 
Gallery tower, standing at one end of the tilt-yard, in which 
was a spacious and noble room for ladies to see the exercises 
of tilting and barriers ; and at the other Mortimer's Tower, 
whereupon the arms of Mortimer were cut in stone ; which 
doubtless was so named by the Earl of Leicester, in memory 
of one more ancient, that stood there formerly ; wherein, as 
I guess, either the Lord Mortimer, at the time of that great 
and solemn tilting formerly mentioned, did lodge; or else 
because Sir John Mortimer, Knight, prisoner here in Henry 
V.'s time, was detained therein. The Chase he likewise 
enlarged, impaling part of Blackwell within it ; and also a 
large nook, extending from Rudfen-lane towards the pool, 
which, being then a waste, wherein the inhabitants of Kenil- 
worth had common, in consideration thereof, he gave them 
all those fields called Prior's Fields, lying north of the Castle. 
I have heard some, who were his servants, say that the charge 
he bestowed on this Castle, with the parks and chase thereto 
belonging, was no less than sixty thousand pounds.' " 

1 Must be an error as to date. Dudley was not created Earl of Leicester 
till the 29th Sept., 1564. In the following month the Manor of Kenilworth 
was assigned to him, though lands in Kenilworth had been transferred to him 
by the Qneon, in exchange for other lands, as early as May, 1563. 




1 



I 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. Ill 

" Of the gardens made by Lord Leicester, Lanehain gives 
a very particular account. Leland 1 makes but few observa- 
tions on Kenilworth ; so that it is evident that at his visit 
the castle had none of those marks of magnificence with 
which it was afterwards adorned. ' King Henry VIII./ says 
he, ' did of late years great cost in repair of the Castle of 
Killingworth. Amongst these reparations the pretty ban- 
queting-house of timber that stood thereby in the meere, and 
bore the name of Pleasant, was taken down, and part of it 
set up in the base-court of Killingworth Castle/ 2 The next 
notice which occurs in history concerning the appearance of 
Kenilworth is the survey taken by the officers of King James 
I. on the contempt of Sir Robert Dudley to the Royal Warrant 
of Privy Seal, sent after him to Italy, commanding his return. 
The following copy of remarks upon this survey will give a 
more perfect idea of the splendour of the castle than any other 
description can j since it was taken when the buildings were 
in their most perfect state, as well as being more numerous 
and magnificent than at any other period of their history. 

ff The Castle of Kenilworth, situate upon a rock. 

1. The circuit thereof within the walls containeth seven 
acres, upon which the walks are so spacious and fair, that two 
or three persons together may walk upon most places thereof. 

2. The Castle, with the four gate-houses, all built of free 
stone, hewen and cut ; the walls, in many places, fifteen and 
ten foot thickness, some more, and some less ; the least four 
foot in thickness square. 

3. The Castle and four gate-houses, all covered with lead, 
whereby it is subject to no other decay than the glass, through 
the extremity of the weather. 

4. The rooms of great state with the same ; and such as 
are able to receive his Majesty, the Queen and Prince at one 
time, built with as much uniformity and conveniency as any 

1 It is worthy of remark that descendants of this celebrated antiquary are 
to be found, to this day, in Massachusetts, U.S. The writer is personally 
acquainted with the family of one of these descendants, located in the City of 
New York. 

- Leland'a ' Itinerary,' vol. iv, p. 191. 



112 KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 

houses of later time ; and with such stately cellars ; all car- 
ried upon pillars, and architecture of freestone, carved and 
wrought as the like are not within this kingdom ; and also 
all other houses for officers answerable. 

5. There lieth about the same in Chases and Parks £1200 
per annum, £900 whereof are grounds for pleasure ; the rest 
in meadow and pasture thereto adjoining, tenants and free- 
holders. 

6. There joineth upon this ground, a park-like ground, 
called the King's Wood, with fifteen several coppices lying 
all together, containing 789 acres, within the same ; which in 
the Earl of Leicester's time, were stored with red deer. 
Since which the deer strayed, but the ground in no sort 
blemished, having great store of timber, and other trees of 
much value upon the same. 

7. There runneth through the said grounds, by the walls 
of the Castle, a fair pool, containing 111 acres, well stored 
with fish and fowl ; which at pleasure is to be let round about 
the Castle. 

8. In timber and woods upon this ground, to the value (as 
hath been offered) of £20,000 (having a convenient time to 
remove them), which to his Majesty in the survey are to be 
valued at £11,722, which proportion, in a like measure, is 
held in all the rest upon the other values to his Majesty. 

9. The circuit of the Castle, manors, parks, and chase 
lying round together, contain at least nineteen or twenty 
miles, in a pleasant country; the like, both for strength, 
state and pleasure, not being within the realm of England. 

10. These lands have been surveyed by Commissioners 
from the King and the Lord Privy Seal, with directions from 
his Lordship to find all things under the true worth, and 
upon oath of jurors, as well as freeholders, as customary 
tenants; which course being held by them, are notwith- 
standing surveyed and returned at £38,554 15s. Out of 
which, for Sir Robert Dudley's contempt, there is to be de- 
ducted £10,000, and for the Lady Dudley's jointure, which is 
without impeachment of waste, whereby she may fell all the 
woods, which by the survey amount unto £11,722. 




Porch or Entrance to the Gate House. 




Chimney Piece removed to the Gate House. 
{See Jppendix, p. 343.) 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 113 

The total of the survey ariseth as followeth.— In laud . .£16,431 9 
„ „ „ In woods . . 11,722 2 

The castle . 10,401 4 

" His Majesty hath herein the mean profits of the Castle 
and premises, through Sir Robert Dudley's contempt during 
his life, or his Majesty's pardon; the reversion in fee being 
the Lord Privy Seal.' l An original copy of the survey of 
Kenilworth Castle is preserved among the Cottonian MSS. 
in the British Museum. 2 

" Such was Kenilworth at its height of magnificence ; the 
next notice is of its decline and overthrow, and almost ever 
since that time it has been/' as Bishop Hurd remarks, " void 
and tenantless ruins ; clasped with the ivy, open to wind and 
weather, and presenting nothing but the ribs and carcase, as 
it were, of their former state. When Oliver Cromwell por- 
tioned out this manor to his officers, it is related that they 
1 demolished the Castle, drained the great pool, cut down 
the King's woods, destroyed his parks and chase, and divided 
the lands into farms among themselves." This was the 
complete overthrow of that magnificent castle, and succeeding 
writers have had only to record how time and the storms of 
heaven have continued to cast down stone after stone of the 
interesting ruins. In 1716, the excellent Dr. Richard Hurd, 
afterwards Bishop of Worcester, visited Kenilworth Castle, 
and he has given a beautiful account of its state at that 
time, in the third of his ( Moral and Political Dialogues.' 
" When they alighted from the coach," says he, " the first 
object that presented itself was the principal gateway of the 
Castle. It had been converted into a farmhouse, and was 
indeed the only part of these ruins that was inhabited. 
On their entrance to the inner court they were struck with 
the sight of many mouldering towers, which preserved a sort 
of magnificence even in their ruins. They amused them- 
selves with observing the vast compass of the whole, with 
marking the uses and tracing the dimensions of the several 
parts. All which it was easy for them to do by the very 
distinct traces that remained of them ; and especially by means 

1 Dugdale's 'Warwickshire,' vol. i, p. 251. 2 Vespas. P. ix, 302. 

8 



114 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

of Dugdale's plans and descriptions, which they had taken care 
to consult. After rambling about for some time they clam- 
bered up a heap of ruins which lay on the west side of the 
court ; and thence came to a broken tower, which, when they 
had mounted some steps, led them to a pathway on the tops 
of the walls. From this eminence they had a very distinct 
view of the several parts they had before contemplated ; of 
the gardens on the north side ; of the winding meadow that 
encompassed the walls of the castle, on the west and south ; 
and had, besides, the command of the country round about 
them for many miles. There was something so august in the 
mingled prospect of so many antique towers falling into 
rubbish, and in the various beauties of the landscape, that 
they were, all of them, as it were, suspended in admiration, 
and continued silent for some time. 1 

" Here then is the last state of that celebrated castle, in 
which the most splendid scenes of Elizabeth's most splendid 
reign were performed ; like the great and magnificent cities 
of Babylon and Jerusalem, its goodliness is turned into 
ruins, and the beauty of it is exchanged for desolation. The 
flapping banners, rich with embroidered blazonings, and the 
gorgeous cloths of tissue and tapestry, which once covered 
the chambers, have all been rent from their places ; and 
instead of them there is the ivy, and the long grass, the rush, 
the dock, and the ' hyssop that springeth out of the wall/ 
For the minstrel's music there are now the shrieks of the owl ; 
and, for the court and presence of royalty, there are now 
silence and mournful solitude. One would have felt proud 
of the fall of Kenilworth had the walls been razed to the 
ground in battle ; but to think that it was first dilapidated 
by the lawless bands of our own ancestors, and then left to 
the most cruel decay ; it is like viewing a dear friend perish- 
ing, piecemeal, by consumption ; and the feelings thus excited 
are the finest, though the most distressing which the heart 
can endure." 2 

1 ' Moral and Political Dialogues/ 1759, 8vo. 

2 ' Glossarial Notes to Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth,' 12mo, 
1821. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 115 



KENILWORTH. 

Sir Walter Scott, in his interesting historical romance of 
Kenilworth, says of this princely castle, — 

"Upon improving which, and the domains around, the 
Earl of Leicester had, it is said, expended sixty thousand 
pounds sterling, a sum equal to half a million of our present 
money. 

"The outer wall of this splendid and gigantic structure 
enclosed seven acres, a part of which was occupied by exten- 
sive stables, and by a pleasure garden with its trim arbours 
and parterres, and the rest formed the large base-court, or 
outer yard, of the noble castle. The lordly structure itself, 
which rose near the centre of this spacious enclosure, was 
composed of a huge pile of magnificent castellated buildings, 
apparently of different ages, surrounding an inner court, and 
bearing in the names attached to each portion of the mag- 
nificent mass, and in the armorial bearings which were there 
emblazoned, the emblems of mighty chiefs who had long passed 
away, and whose history, could ambition have lent an ear to 
it, might have read a lesson to the haughty favorite who had 
now acquired, and was augmenting the fair domain. A large 
and massive keep, which formed the citadel of the castle, 
was of uncertain though great antiquity. It bore the name 
of Caesar, perhaps from its resemblance to that in the Tower 
of London so called. Some antiquaries ascribed its founda- 
tion to the time of Kenelph, from whom the castle had its 
name, a Saxon King of Mercia, and others to an early era 
after the Norman Conquest. On the exterior walls frowned 
the scutcheon of the Clintons, by whom they were founded 
in the reign of Henry L, and of the yet more redoubted 
Simon de Montfort, by whom, during the Baron's wars, 
Kenilworth was long held out against Henry III. Here, 
Mortimer, Earl of March, famous alike for his rise and his fall, 
had once gaily revelled, while his dethroned Sovereign, 
Edward IL, languished in its dungeons. Old John of Gaunt, 



116 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

s time-honoured Lancaster/ had widely extended the castle, 
erecting that ' noble and massive pile which yet bears the 
name of Lancaster's Buildings / and Leicester himself had 
outdone the former possessors, princely and powerful as they 
were, by erecting another immense structure, which now lies 
crushed under its own ruins, the monument of its owner's 
ambition. The external wall of this royal castle was, on the 
south and west sides, adorned and defended by a lake partly 
artificial, across which Leicester had constructed a stately 
bridge, that Elizabeth might enter the castle by a path 
hitherto untrodden, instead of the usual entrance to the 
northward ; over which he had erected a gate-house or bar- 
bican, which still exists, and is equal in extent, and superior in 
architecture, to the baronial castle of many a northern chief. 

" Beyond the lake lay an extensive chase, full of red deer, 
fallow deer, roes, and every species of game, and abounding 
with lofty trees, from amongst which the extended front and 
massive towers of the castle were seen to rise in majesty and 
beauty. We cannot but add, that of this lordly palace, where 
princes feasted and heroes fought, now in the bloody earnest 
of storm and siege, and now in the games of chivalry, where 
beauty dealt the prize which valour won, all is now desolate. 
The bed of the lake is but a rushy swamp ; and the massive 
ruins of the castle only serve to show what their splendour 
once was, and to impress on the musing visitor the transitory 
value of human possessions and the happiness of those who 
enjoy a humble lot in virtuous contentment." 

"Laneham's account of the Queen's entertainment at 
Killingworth Castle, in 1575 — a very diverting tract, written 
by as great a coxcomb as ever blotted paper. The original 
is extremely rare, but it has been twice reprinted ; once in 
Mr. Nichols's very curious and interesting collection of the 
Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth : and 
more lately in a work termed e Kenilworth Illustrated/ beau- 
tifully printed at Chiswick." 1 

1 It has since been published in a separate form in a small duodecimo 
volume, Lond., 1821, from a copy of which, formerly in the possession of Sir 
Harris Nicolas, is printed the full account in the present work. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 117 



ROBERT LANEHAM. 

<c Robert Laneham was born in the County of Nottingham, 
and was educated at St. Paul's School, and afterwards at 
that of St. Anthony, near the Royal Exchange, which, ac- 
cording to Stow, bore the highest " reputation in the City in 
former times." His father seems to have moved in a mode- 
rate, if not in a very inferior rank of life ; for towards the 
conclusion of his letter he states that it was a great relief to 
his parent when the Earl of Leicester received him into favour 
and protection. Laneham appears to have held some situa- 
tion in the Royal stables, where also his father was placed 
after his own advancement in the Court. In addition to 
this situation Laneham procured a patent, or license as it 
was then called, for serving the Royal Mews with beans, 
which, however, he neglected when promoted to the office of 
Clerk of the Council-Chamber door. It is to this office that 
he alludes in the commencement of his letter, when he says 
that he had the power, on such days as the Council did not 
sit, to visit whatever he thought proper to see, as well as the 
privilege of being present at any exhibition which should be 
prepared for the Queen. Hence it would appear that Lane- 
ham's duty was not confined to keeping the entrance of the 
Council-Room only, but that he also performed the office of 
a Gentleman-Usher, in preserving the Presence-Chamber, 
wherever that might be, free from the intrusion of strangers. 
It is evidently with this feeling that the author of ' Kenil- 
worth' makes Laneham say to his patron Leicester, when 
requesting that he may visit the Castle in the Queen's suite, 
" Bethink you, my Lord, how necessary is this rod of mine 
to fright away all those listeners, who would else play at 
bo-peep with the honorable Council, and be searching for 
keyholes and crannies in the door of the Chamber, so as to 
render my staff as needful as a fly-trap in a butcher's shop." * 

t( It is not easy to imagine what the lordly and ambitious 

1 Kenilworth, by Sir Walter Scott. 



118 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Dudley could have discovered in the conceited and talkative 
Laneham to have induced him to become so excellent a 
patron ; but the reasons might probably be the boldness of 
the latter, joined to his knowledge of several foreign lan- 
guages, which rendered him peculiarly fitted for the duties of 
a Gentleman-Usher, who could, with official importance, 
keep order in the Court, and converse in their own tongues 
with any of the numerous foreigners who visited it. Nor is 
this supposition founded upon speculation only, for towards 
the conclusion of this letter Laneham expresses himself 
in terms like the following : " Now, Sir, when the Council 
sits, I am at hand, and attend them closely, I warrant you ; 
if any should talk, then I say, c Peace ; know you where you 
are?' If I see one listening either at the aperture in the 
door, or between the spaces of it, then presently I am upon 
him for his rudeness/' 

" Such are some of the particulars extant concerning 
Laneham ; and it is evident that these were in the mind of 
the author of f Kenilworth/ when he wrote the admirable 
description of Laneham waiting in the ante-room at Green- 
wich Palace, where he even notices the convivial habits of 
that singular character, which gave a flushed and rosy tint 
to his face. This information was first given by Laneham 
himself in the ensuing letter, and in the following terms : — 
' But in faith it is not so ; for sipped I no more sack and 
sugar than I do malmsey, I should not blush so much 
now-a-days as I do/ Having now so long dilated upon 
Laneham' s life, and the duties of his station, it will not be 
uninteresting to extract his portrait from the romance of 
' Kenilworth' itself; it may well be regarded as an au- 
thentic likeness, and nothing can more properly conclude 
these memoranda concerning him. f Then the earl was 
approached with several fantastic congees, by a person 
quaintly dressed in a doublet of black velvet, curiously 
slashed and pinked with crimson satin. A long cock's 
feather in the velvet bonnet, which he held in his hand, and 
an enormous ruff, stiffened to the extremity of the absurd 
taste of the times, joined with a sharp, lively, conceited 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 119 

expression of countenance seemed to body forth a vain, hair- 
brained coxcomb, and small wit ; while the rod he held, and 
an assumption of formal authority, appeared to express some 
sense of official consequence, which qualified the natural 
pertness of his manner. A perpetual blush which occupied 
rather the sharp nose than the thin cheek of the personage, 
seemed to speak more of ' good life/ as it was called, than of 
modesty." 1 

Queen Elizabeth visited Warwick, 12th August, 1572. 
On her way she dined at "Ichington, or Long Ichington/' 
two miles from Warwick, which " belonged to Robert, Earl 
of Leicester, who on Saturday 9th July, 1575, gave Queen 
Elizabeth a glorious entertainment here, on her passage to 
Kenilworth Castle, erecting a tent of extraordinary largeness 
for that purpose ; the piers belonging whereto amounted to 
seven cart-loads, by which the magnificence thereof may be 
guessed at." 2 

" While on her visit here, she went to Kenilworth, and 
stayed from the Wednesday till Saturday; again on the 
Monday, and on the following Monday, staying till Saturday. 
While at Warwick, she stayed at the castle/'' 3 

The following is a particular account of the entertainment 
given to Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth, in 1575, written by 
Robert Laneham, who was an eye-witness of the festivities. 

1 From Lauebam's Kenilworth Castle in 1575. 12mo, 1821. 

2 Dugdale's ' Warwickshire,' p. 34-5. 

3 Black Book, printed in 'Nichols's Bililio. Topog. Brittanica. 



A LETTER: 

BfiB&earm part of tbt Cntertam* 

mntt unto tfte ®ueen'* JMajestg 

at i^tlltrtQbDortf) 1 OTastl in ISSartoifcsfjeet 

tit tfjis Scutes progress— 1575 is 

gtgnifteti: front a fmnti officer 

attendant in tfjr (JTcurt tmto 

f)is fwenti a (titipn 

anti fKercfjaunt 

of Uontion. 

DE EEGIJNA NOSTEA ILLTJSTEISSIMA, 

Dum laniata mat vicina oh Regna tumultus, 

Lceta suos inter genialibus ILLA dielus 

( Gratia Diis) fruitur : Bupantur Sf ilia Codro. 2 

WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES. 



1 Killingworth, a corruption of Keni] worth, frequently so used and spelt 
at and after that period. 

2 Reprinted from the edition of 1821. 12mo, London. 



LANEHAM'S LETTER, 



"UNTO MY GOOD FRIEND, 

"MASTEB HUMPHEEY MAETIN, Meecee, 

" Aetee my hearty commendations, I commend me heartily to 
you. Understand ye, that since, through Grod and good friends, 
I am here placed at Court, as you know, in a worshipful room, 
whereby I am not only acquainted with the most, and well known 
to the best, and every officer glad of my company ; but also at 
present have power, while the Council sits not, to go and to see 
things sight- worthy ; and to be present at any show or spectacle, 
any where this progress represented unto her Highness : of part 
of which sports, having taken some notes and observations — for 
I cannot be idle at any rate in the world — as well to put from me 
suspicion of sluggishness, as to take from you any doubt of my 
forgetfulness of your friendship ; I have thought it meet to im- 
part them unto you, as frankly, as friendly, and as fully, as I can. 
Tou know well, the Black Prince was never stained with dis- 
loyalty of ingratitude towards any ; I dare be his warrant he will 
not begin with you, that hath at his hand so deeply deserved. 
But herein, the better for conceiving of my mind, and instruction 
of your's, you must give me leave a little, as well to preface my 
matter, as to discourse somewhat of Killingworth Castle, a terri- 
tory of the right honorable, my singular good Lord, my Lord 
the Earl of Leicester ; of whose incomparable cheer and enter- 
tainment there unto her Majesty, I will show you a part, here, 
that could not see all ; nor, had I seen all, could well report the 
half. "Where things for the persons, place, time, cost, devices, 
strangeness and abundance, of all that ever I saw (and yet have 
I been, what under my Master Bomsted, and what on my own 
affairs, while I occupied merchandise, both in France and 



124 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Flanders long and many a day), I saw none any where so memo- 
rable, I tell you plain. 

" The Castle hath the name of Killingworth, but of truth, 
grounded upon faithful story, Kenilworth. It stands in "War- 
wickshire, seventy-four miles north-west from London, and as it 
were in the centre of England ; four miles somewhat south from 
Coventry, a proper City ■ and a like distance from "Warwick, a 
fair County -town on the north. Of air sweet and wholesome, 
raised on an easily mounted hill, it is set evenly coasted with the 
front strait to the east, and hath the tenants and town about it, 
that pleasantly shift from dale to hill sundry where, with sweet 
springs bursting forth ; and is so plentifully well sorted on every 
side into arable, mead, pasture, wood, water, and good air, as it 
appears to have need of nothing that may pertain to living or 
pleasure. To advantage, it hath, hard on the west, still nourished 
with many lively springs, a goodly pool of rare beauty, breadth, 
length, depth, and store of all kinds of fresh-water fish, delicate, 
great, and fat ; and also of wild fowl beside. By a rare situation 
and natural agreement, this pool seems conjoined to the Castle, 
that on the west lays the head, as it were, upon the Castle's 
bosom, embraceth it on either side, south and north, with both 
the arms, and settles itself as in a reach a flight-shoot broad, 
stretching forth body and legs a mile or two westward : between 
a fair park on the one side, which by the brays l is linked to the 
Castle on the south, sprinkled at the entrance with a few conies, 
that for colour and smallness of number seem to be suffered more 
for pleasure than commodity : And on the other side, north and 
west, a goodly chase ; vast, wide, large, and full of red-deer and 
other stately game for hunting : Beautified with many delectable, 
fresh, and shaded bowers, arbours, seats, and walks, that with 
great art, cost, and diligence were very pleasantly appointed: 
Which also the natural grace, by the tall and fresh fragrant trees 
and soil, did so far forth commend, as Diana herself might have 
deigned there well enough to range for her pastime. 

" The left arm of this pool, northward, hath my Lord adorned 
with a beautiful bracelet of a fair timbered bridge, that is of 

1 " The park at Kenilworth was separated from the Castle on the south side 
by a part of the pool, biit was, as the text states, connected as it were with 
the building by the sloping banks next the water. The word Bra, Brae, or 
Bray, in the northern counties and Scotland is used for the acclivity of a hill, 
and the brink or bank of a river. — Vide Grose and Jamieson. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 125 

fourteen feet wide and six hundred feet long; railed on both 
sides, strongly planked for passage, reaching from the chase to 
the Castle. That thus in the midst it hath clear prospect over 
these pleasures on the back part ; and forward over all the town, 
and much of the country beside. 

" Here, too, is a special commodity at hand of sundry quarries 
of large building stone, the goodness whereof may the more 
easily be judged, in the building and ancient stateliness of the 
Castle, that (as by the name and histories well may be gathered) 
was first reared by Kenulpli, and his young son Kenelm, born 
both indeed within the realm here, but yet of the race of Saxons ; 
and reigned Kings of Marchland from the year of our Lord 798, 
for 23 years together, above 770 years ago ; although the Castle 
hath one ancient, strong, and large keep, that is called Csesar's 
Tower, rather, as I have good cause to think, for that it is square 
and high, formed after the manner of Caesar's Torts, than that 
ever he built it. Nay, now that I am a little in, Master Martin, 
I will tell you all. 

" This Marchland, that stories call Mercia, is numbered in their 
books the fourth of the seven kingdoms that the Saxons had 
whilom here divided among them in the realm. It began in 
Anno Dom. 616, one hundred and thirty-nine years after Horsa 
and Hengist ; continued in the race of 17 kings, 249 years to- 
gether, and ended in Anno 875, raised from the rest (says the 
book) at first by Penda's presumption, 1 overthrown at last by 
Euthred's hascardy, 2 and so fell to the kingdom of the West- 
Saxons. Marchland had in it London, Middlesex, herein a 
bishopric : had more of shires, Gloucester, "Worcester, and War- 
wick, and herein a bishopric ; Chester (that now we call Cheshire), 
Derby, and Stafford, whereunto one bishop that had also part of 
Warwick and Shrewsbury, and his See at Coventry that was then 
aforetime at Lichfield : Hereto Hereford, wherein a bishopric 
that had more to jurisdiction, half Shrewsbury, part of Warwick 

1 " In the year 642, Penda, king of Mercia, invaded the dominions of Oswald, 
king of Northumberland; who was slain after a fierce battle at Maserfield. 
Burthred or Buthred, who is mentioned in the context, Avas the last King of 
Mercia; whose kingdom was invaded in 874, by the West-Saxons, under 
Alfred. Thus overpowered, he fled to Rome, where he died. 

2 " The latter of these words signifies a dispersion or scattering, the cause of 
which has been related in the preceding note. Hascardy is derived from the 
Saxon Xj-catiian, which is of the same interpretation. — Vide Somner. 



126 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

and also of Gloucester, and the See at Hereford : Also had Oxford, 
Buckingham, Hertford, Huntingdon, and half of Bedford; and 
to these Northampton, part of Leicester, and also Lincoln, 
whereunto a bishop ; whose See at Lincoln City that sometime 
before was at Dorchester : hereto the rest of Leicester and in 
Nottingham, that of old had a special bishop, whose See was at 
Leicester, but afterwards put to the charge of the Archbishop of 
York. 

" Now touching the name, that of old records I understand, 
and of ancient writers I find, is called Kenilworth ; since most 
of the "Worths in England stand nigh unto like lakes, and are 
either small islands, such one as the seat of this Castle hath been 
and easily may be, or is land-ground by pool or river, whereon 
willows, alders, or such like do grow : Which Althamerus l writes 
precisely that the Germans call OTevtt : joining these two to- 
gether with the nighness also of the words and sybred 2 of the 
tongues. I am the bolder to pronounce, that as our English 
Worth, with the rest of our ancient language, was left us from 
the Germans, even so that their Werd and our Worth is all one 
thing in signification, common to us both even at this day. I 
take the case so clear, that I say not so much as I might. Thus 
proface ye with the preface ; 3 and now to the matter. 

" On Saturday the ninth of July, at Long Ichington, a town 
and lordship of my Lord's, within seven miles of Killingworth, 
his Honour made her Majesty great cheer at dinner, and pleasant 
pastime in hunting by the way after, that it was eight o'clock in 
the evening ere her Highness came to Killingworth ; where in 
the park, about a flight-shoot from the brays and first gate of the 
Castle, one of the ten Sibyls, that we read were all Fatidicce and 
Theohulcs, as parties and privy to the Gods' gracious good wills, 
comely clad in a pall of white silk, 4 pronounced a proper poesy in 

1 " Andrew Althamer, a Lutheran minister of Nuremberg, who lived about 
1560. The termination Worth, which is mentioned in the text to signify land 
situate by water, is more properly derived from the Saxon £>oj-i$, a court or 
farm ; and hence the place was originally denominated Kenelm's Worth, or 
the Court of Kenelm. 

2 "A word signifying kindred, from the Saxon Sib-jie'sen — Consanguinity. 
— Vide Lye. 

3 Proface. An exclamation equivalent to " much good may it do you." — 
Halliwell. 

4 "A long and large upper mantle was denominated a pall, from the Latin 
pallium, or pallet, a cloak. The great mantle worn by the Knights of the 
Garter, is by ancient writers called pallium. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 127 

English rhyme and metre: of effect, how great gladness her 
goodness' presence l brought into every stead 2 where it pleased 
her to come, and especially now into that place that had so long 
longed after the same ; ending with prophecy certain of much 
and long prosperity, health, and felicity. This her Majesty 
benignly accepting, passed forth unto the next gate of the brays, 
which for the length, largeness and use, (as well it may so serve) 
they call now the tilt-yard, where a porter, tall of person, big of 
limb, and stern of countenance, wrapped also all in silk, with a 
club and keys of quantity according, had a rough speech full of 
passions, in metre aptly made to the purpose : Whereby (as her 
Highness was come within his ward,) he burst out in a great 
pang of impatience to see such uncouth trudging to and fro, such 
riding in and out, with such din and noise of talk within the 
charge of his office, whereof he never saw the like, nor had any 
warning afore, nor yet could make to himself any cause of the 
matter. At last, upon better view and avisement, as he pressed 
to come nearer, confessing anon that he found himself pierced at 
the presence of a personage so evidently expressing an heroical 
sovereignty over all the whole estates, and by degrees there 
beside, calmed his astonishment, proclaims open gates and free 
passage to all, yields up his club, his keys, his office and all, and 
on his knees humbly prays pardon of his ignorance and im- 
patience ; which her Highness graciously granting, he caused his 
trumpeters that stood upon the wall of the gate there, to sound 
up a tune of welcome; which, beside the noble noise, was so 
much the more pleasant to behold, because these trumpeters, 
being six in number, were every one eight feet high, in due pro- 
portion of person beside, all in long garments of silk suitable, 
each with his silvery trumpet of five feet long, formed taper-wise 
and straight from the upper part unto the lower end, where the 
diameter was 16 inches over ; and yet so tempered by art, that 
being very easy to the blast, they cast forth no greater noise, nor 
a more unpleasant sound for time and tune, than any other 
common trumpet, be it never so artificially formed. These har- 
monious blasters, from the foreside of the gate, at her Highness' 
entrance, where they began : walking upon the walls unto tho 
inner [court], had this music maintained from them very de- 

1 Another early copy reads " gracious presence." 

2 "That is to say, every where, or into every place; the word stead is from 
the Saxon Sre^e, a room or place. — Vide Somner. 



128 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

lectably, while her Highness all along this tilt-yard rode unto the 
inner gate, next the base-court of the Castle, where the Lady of 
the Lake, (famous in King Arthur's book) with two nymphs 
waiting upon her, arrayed all in silks, awaited her Highness's 
coming: From the midst of the pool, where upon a movable 
island, bright blazing with torches, she floated to land, and met 
her Majesty with a well-penned metre and matter after this sort : 
[viz.] First, of the ancestry of the Castle, who had been owners 
of the same e'en till this day, most always in the hands of the 
Earls of Leicester; how she had kept this Lake since King 
Arthur's days ; and now, understanding of her Highness's hither 
coming, thought it both her office and duty in humble wise to 
discover her and her estate : offering up the same, her lake, and 
power therein, with promise of repair unto the Court. It pleased 
her Highness to thank this lady, and to add withall : ' We had 
thought indeed the Lake had been ours, and do you call it yours 
now? "Well, we will herein commune more with you hereafter.' 

"This pageant was closed up with a delectable harmony of 
hautboys, shalms, 1 cornets, and such other loud music, that held 
on while her Majesty pleasantly so passed from thence toward 
the Castle-gate ; whereunto, from the base-court, over a dry valley 
cast into a good form, there was framed a fair bridge of twenty 
feet wide, and seventy feet long, gravelled for treading, railed 
on either part with seven posts on a side, that stood twelve feet 
asunder, thickened between with well-proportioned turned pillars. 

" Upon the first pair of posts were set two comely square wire 
cages, three feet long, and two feet wide ; and high in them live 
bitterns, curlews, shovelers, hernshaws, godwits, and such like 
dainty birds, of the presents of Sylvanus, the God of fowl. On 
the second pair two great silvered bowls, featly apted to the 
purpose, filled with apples, pears, cherries, filberds, walnuts, fresh 
upon their branches, and with oranges, pomegranates, lemons, 
and pippins, all for the gifts of Pomona, Groddess of fruits. The 
third pair of posts, in two such silvered bowls, had (all in ears 
green and old) wheat, barley, oats, beans, and peas, as the gifts 
of Ceres. The fourth post, on the left hand, in a like silvered 
bowl, had grapes in clusters, white and red, gracified with their 
vine leaves: The match post against it had a pair of great white 

1 "The word shalm or shawm is derived from the German Jjcljalme, a 
musical instrument; it however strictly signifies a psaltery or species of 
harp. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 129 

silver livery pots for wine : and before them two glasses of good 
capacity, filled full ; the one with white wine, the other with 
claret, so fresh of colour, and of look so lovely, smiling to the eye 
of many, that by my faith methought, by their leering, they could 
have found in their hearts, (as the evening was hot,) to have 
kissed them sweetly and thought it no sin : And these were the 
potencial presents of Bacchus, the God of wine. The fifth pair 
had each a fair large tray, strewed with fresh grass -} and in them 
conger, burt, mullet, fresh herrings, oysters, salmon, crevis, and 
such like, from Neptunus, God of the sea. On the sixth pair of 
posts were set two ragged staves of silver, as my Lord gives them 
in his arms, beautifully glittering of armour, thereupon depending 
bows, arrows, spears, shield, head-piece, gorget, corslets, swords, 
targets, and such like, for liar's gifts, the God of war. And 
the aptlier (methought) was it that those ragged staves supported 
these martial presents, as well because these staves by their tines 
seem naturally meet for the bearing of armour, as also that they 
chiefly in this place might take upon them the principal pro- 
tection of her highness's person, that so benignly pleased her to 
take harbour. On the seventh posts, the last and next to the 
Castle, were there pight 2 two fair bay branches of four feet high, 
adorned on all sides with lutes, viols, shalms, cornets, flutes, 
recorders, 3 and harps, as the presents of Phoebus, the God of 
music, for rejoicing the mind, and also of physic, for health to 
the body. 

" Over the Castle-gate was there fastened a table beautifully 
garnished above with her Highness's arms, and featly with ivy 
wreaths bordered about, of ten feet square: the ground black, 
whereupon, in large white capital Roman fairly written, was a 
poem mentioning these Gods and their gifts, thus presented unto 
her Highness : which, because it remained unremoved, at leisure 
and pleasure I took it out, as followeth : — 

1 Tn another early copy " strewed a little with fresh grass/ 5 

2 " This word is the ancient preterite and participle past of the verb to 
pitch. It signifies, generally, any thing placed, fixed, pitched, or determined. 

Vide Bailey. 

3 " These were wind-instruments somewhat resembling flutes, or rather 
clarionets. 



130 KKNILWOitTH CASTLE. 



"AD MAJESTATEM KEGXAM. 

" Jupiter hue certos cernens te tendere gressus, 
Cselicolas Princeps actutum convocat Omnes : 
Obsequium prsestare jubet Tibi quenque benignum. 
Unde suas Sylvanus Aves, Pomonaque fructus, 
Alma Ceres fruges, hilarantia vina Liseus, 
Nejptunus pisces, tela et tutantia Mavors, 
Suave Melos Phoebus, solidamq; longamq; salutem. 
Dii Tibi Regina hsec (cum sis Dignissima) prsebent : 
Hoc Tibi, cum Domino, dedit se et werda Kenelmi. 

" All the letters that mention her Majesty, which are here put 
in capitals, for reverence and honour, were there made in gold. 

"But the night well spent, for that these verses by torch- light 
could easily be read ; a poet, therefore, in a long ceruleous l 
garment, with side [i. e. long] and wide sleeves, Venetian-wise 
drawn up to his elbow, his doublet sleeves under that, of crimson, 
nothing but silk ; a bay garland on his head, and a scroll in his 
hand, making first an humble obeisance at her Highness's coming, 
and pointing unto every present as he spake, the same were 
pronounced. Thus viewing the gifts, as she passed, and how the 
posts might agree with the speech of the poet : At the end of the 
bridge and entry of the gate, was her Highness received with a 
fresh delicate harmony of flutes, in performance of Phoebus'' 
presents. 

" So passing into the inner court, her Majesty (that never rides 
but alone) there, set down from her palfrey, was conveyed up to 
her chamber: When after did follow so great a peal of guns, and 
such lightening by fire- work a long space together, as though 
Jupiter would have shown himself to be no further behind with 
his welcome than the rest of his Grods : and that he would have 
all the country to know, for indeed the noise and flame were 
heard and seen twenty miles off. Thus much, Master Martin, 
(that I remember me) for the first day's Hen venu. Be you not 
weary, for I am scant in the midst of my matter. 

" On Sunday, the forenoon occupied as for the Sabbath-day, in 
quiet and vacation from work, and in divine service and preaching 
at the parish church : the afternoon in excellent music of sundry 

1 "Azure-blue, or sky-colour, from the Latin ceruleus. Anciently, blue 
dresses were worn by all servants. Vide Sti-utt. 



KKN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 131 

sweet instruments, and in dancing of Lords and Ladies, and 
other worshipful degrees, uttered with such lively agility, and 
commendable grace, as whether it might be more strauge to the 
eye, or pleasant to the mind, for my part indeed I could not 
discern; but it was exceedingly well, methought, in both. 

"At night late, as though. Jupiter the last night had forgot for 
business, or forborne for courtesy and quiet, part of bis welcome 
unto her Highness appointed, now entering at the first into his 
purpose moderately (as mortals do) with a warning piece or two, 
proceeding on with increase, till at last the Altitonant [i. e. High 
Thunderer,] displays me his main power ; with blaze of burning 
darts flying to and fro, learns of stars coruscant, streams and hail 
of fiery sparks, lightnings of wildfire on water and land, flight and 
shooting of thunderbolts, all with such continuance, terror, and 
vehemency, that the heavens thundered, the waters surged, the 
earth shook, and in such sort surely, as had we not been assured 
that the fulminant Diety was all hot in amity, and could not 
otherwise testify his welcome unto her Highness, it would have 
made me for my part, as hardy as I am, very vengeably afraid. 
This ado lasted until the midnight was passed, that it seemed well 
with me soon after, when I found me in my cabin. And this for 
the second day. 

" Monday was hot, and therefore her Highness kept in till five 
o'clock in the evening ; what time it pleased her to ride forth into 
the chase to hunt the hart of force: which found anon, and after 
sore chased, and chafed by the hot pursuit of the hounds, was 
fain of fine force, at last to take soil. 1 There to behold the swift 
fleeting of the deer afore with the stately carriage of his head in. 
his swimming, spread (for the quantity) like the sail of a ship ; 
the hounds harrowing after as they had been a number of skills 
to the spoil of a Carvell: 2 the one no less eager in the purchase 
of his prey, than was the other earnest in safeguard of his life : so 
as the yearning of the hounds 3 in continuance of their cry, the 

1 "A term used in hunting, when a deer runs into the water. Vide 
Phillips. 

2 "A Carvel, or Caravel, was a species of light round vessel, with a square 
stern, rigged and fitted out like a galley, and of ahout 140 tons burthen. 
Such ships were formerly much used by the Portuguese, and were esteemed 
the best sailers on the seas. Vide Phillips. 

3 "A hunting expression, used to signify the barking of beagles at their 
prey. Vide Bailey. 



132 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

swiftness of the deer, the running of footmen, the galloping 
of horses, the blasting of horns, the hallooing and shouting of the 
huntsmen, with the excellent echoes between whiles from the 
woods and waters in valleys resounding ; moved pastime delect- 
able in so high a degree as for any person to take pleasure by 
most senses at once : in mine opinion, there can be none in any 
way comparable to this : and 'specially in this place, that of nature 
is formed so fit for the purpose ; in faith, Master Martin, if ye 
could with a wish, I would you had been at it : "Well, the hart 
was killed, a goodly deer, but so ceased not the game yet. 

" For about nine o'clock, at the hither part of the chase, where 
torch light attended, out of the woods, in her Majesty's return, 
there came roughly forth Hombre Salvagio [i. e. a Savage Man,] 
with an oaken plant plucked up by the roots iu his hand, him- 
self foregrown all in moss and ivy ; who, for personage, gesture, 
and utterance beside, countenanced the matter to very good 
liking ; and had speech to this effect : — That continuing so long 
in these wild wastes, wherein oft had he fared both far and near, 
yet happed he never to see so glorious an assembly before : and 
now cast into great grief of mind, for that neither by himself could 
he guess, nor knew where else to be taught, what they should be, 
or who bare estate. Reports, some had he heard of many strange 
things, but broiled thereby so much the more in desire of know- 
ledge. Thus, in great pangs, bethought he, and called he upon 
all his familiars and companions, the fawns, the satyrs, the 
nymphs, the dryades, and the hamadryades ; but none making 
answer, whereby his care the more increasing, in utter grief and 
extreme refuge, called he aloud at last after his old friend Echo, 
that he wist would hide nothing from him, but tell him all, if she 
were here. 'Here' (quoth Echo). 'Here, Echo, and art thou 
there ?' (says he) ' Ah ! how much hast thou relieved my careful 
spirits with thy courtesy onward. Ay me, good Echo, here is a 
marvellous presence of dignity ; what are they, I pray thee, who 
is Sovereign, tell me, I beseech thee, or else how might I know ?' 
'I know,' (quoth she.) ' Knowest thou?' says he ; ' marry, that 
is exceedingly well : Why, then, I desire thee, heartily show me 
what majesty, (for no mean degree is it) have we here : a King, or 
a Queen?' 'A Queen!' (quoth Echo.) 'A Queen!' says he, 
pausing, and wisely viewing awhile, ' now full certainly seems thy 
tale to be true.' And proceeding by this manner of dialogue, 
with an earnest beholding her Highness awhile, recounts he, 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 133 

first, how justly that former reports agree with his present sight, 
touching the beautiful lineaments of countenance, the comely 
proportion of body, the princely grace of presence, the gracious 
gifts of nature, with the rare and singular qualities of both body 
and mind in her Majesty conjoined, and so apparent at eye. 
Then shortly rehearsing Saturday's acts, of Sibyl's salutation ; of 
the Porter's proposition; of his Trumpeter's music; of the Lake 
Lady's oration, and of the seven Grods' seven presents, he reported 
the incredible joy that all estates in the land have always of her 
Highness wheresoever she came ; ending with presage and prayer 
of perpetual felicity, and with humble subjection of him and his, 
and all that they may do. After this sort the matter went, with 
little difference, I guess, saving only in this point, that the thing 
which I here report in unpolished prose, was there pronounced in 
good metre and matter, very well endited in rhyme. Echo finely 
framed, most aptly, by answers thus to utter all. And I shall 
tell you, Jlfdster Martin, by the mass, of a mad adventure — As 
this Savage, for the more submission, broke his tree asunder, and 
cast the top from him, it had almost light upon her Highness's 
horse's head ; whereat he startled, and the gentleman much dis- 
mayed. See the benignity of the prince : as the footmen looked 

well to the horse, and he of generosity soon calmed of himself 

1 JSo hurt, No hurt,' quoth her Highness. AVhich words, I pro- 
mise you, we were all glad to hear, and took them to be the best 
part of the play. 

" Tuesday, pleasant passing of the time with music and dancing ; 
saving that toward night it liked her Majesty to walk afoot into 
the chase over the bridge, where it pleased her to stand : while 
upon the pool out of a barge, finely appointed for the purpose, to 
hear sundry kinds of very delectable music : thus recreated, and 
after some walk, her Highness returned. 

" Wednesday, Her Majesty rode into the chase a hunting again 
of the hart of force. The deer, after his property, for refuge took 
the soil : but so mastered by hot pursuit on all parts, that he 
was taken quick in the pool : The watermen held him up hard by 
the head, while at her Highness's commandment, he lost his ears 
for a ransom, and so had pardon for life. 

" Thursday, the fourteenth of this July, and the sixth day of her 
Majesty's coming, a great sort of Ban-dogs 1 were there tied in the 

1 " Bewick describes the Ban-dog as being a variety of the mastiff, but 
lighter, smaller, and more vigilant ; although at the same time not so power- 



134 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

outer court, and thirteen bears in the inner. Whosoever made 
the pannel, there were enough for a quest, and one for challenge 
an need were. A wight of great wisdom and gravity seemed their 
foreman to be, had it come to a jury ; but it fell out that they 
were caused to appear there upon no such matter, but only to 
answer to an ancient quarrel between them and the Ban- dogs, in 
a cause of controversy that had long depended, been obstinately 
full often debated, with sharp and biting arguments on both sides, 
and could never be decided : grown now to so marvellous a ma- 
lice, that with spiteful upbraidings and uncharitable chaffings, 
always they fret, as any where the one can hear, see, or smell the 
other : and indeed at utter deadly feud. Many a maimed mem- 
ber, (G-od wot) bloody face, and a torn coat, hath the quarrel cost 
between them ; so far likely the less yet now to be appeased, as 
there wants not partakers to back them on both sides. 

" Well, Sir, the bears were brought forth into the court, the 
dogs set to them to argue the points even face to face ; they had 
learned counsel also on both parts : what, may they be counted 
partial that are retainers but to a side ? I ween no. Very fierce 
both the one and the other, and eager in argument : if the dog in 
pleading should pluck the bear by the throat, the bear with tra- 
verse would claw him again by the scalp : Confess an he list, but 
avoid he could not, that was bound to the bar ; and his counsel 
told him that it could be to him no policy in pleading. Therefore 
thus with 'fending and proving, with plucking and tugging, 
scratching and biting, by plain tooth and nail on one side and the 
other, such expense of blood and leather was there between them, 
as a month's licking, I ween, will not recover ; and yet remain as 
far out as ever they were. 

" It was a sport very pleasant of these beasts ; to see the bear 
with his pink eyes leering after his enemies approach, the nimble- 
ness and wait of the dog, to take his advantage, and the force and 
experience of the bear again to avoid the assault : If he was bit- 
ten in one place, how he would pinch in another to get free ; that 
if he was taken once, then what shift, with biting, with clawing, 
with roaring, tossing and tumbling, he would work to wind him- 

ful. The nose is also less, and possesses somewhat of the hound's scent ; the 
hair is rough, and of a yellowish grey colour, marked with shades of black. 
The bite of a Ean-dog is keen, and considered dangerous; and its attack is 
usually made upon the flank. Dogs of this kind arc now rarely to he met 
With. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 135 

self from them ; and when he was loose, to shake his ears twice 
or thrice with the blood and the slaver about his physiognomy, 
w r as a matter of a goodly relief. 1 

" As this sport was held at day-time, in the Castle, so was there 
abroad at night very strange and sundry kinds of fire-works, com- 
pelled by cunning to fly to and fro, and to mount very high into 
the air upward, and also to burn unquenchably beneath the water, 
contrary, ye wot, to fire's kind : This intermingled with a great 
peal of guns, which all gave both to the ear and to the eye the 
greater grace and delight, for that with such order and art they 
were tempered, touching time and continuance, that was about 
two hours space. 

" Now, within also, in the mean time, was there showed before 
her Highness, by an Italian, such feats of agility, in goings, 
turnings, tumblings, castings, hops, jumps, leaps, skips, springs, 
gambols, summersets, caperings, and flights ; forward, backward, 
sideways, downward, and upward, with sundry windings, gyrings 2 
and circumflexions ; all so lightly and with such easiness, as by 
me, in few words, it is not expressible by pen or speech, I tell you 
plainly. I blessed me, by my faith, to behold him ; and began to 
doubt whether it was a man or a spirit ; and I ween had doubted 
me till this day, had it not been that anon I bethought me of 
men that can reason and talk with two tongues, and with two 
persons at once, sing like birds, courteous of behaviour, of body 
strong, and in joints so nimble withal, that their bones seemed as 
lythie and pliant as sinews. They dwell in a happy island (as the 
book terms it,) four months sailing southward beyond Ethiopia. 
]N"ay, Master Martin, I tell you no jest ; for both Diodorus Sicu- 
lus, an ancient Greek historiographer, in his third book of the 

1 "There is a singular coincidence between Laneham's description of a 
bear-fight, and that given in the romance of ' Kenilworth,' where the Earl of 
Sussex presents a petition from Orson Pinnit, Keeper of the Royal Bears, 
against Shakspeare and the players. It is evident that the author of ' Kenil- 
worth' had the passage in his mind; and as the reader may also like to com- 
pare the two passages, an extract from the romance is here inserted: — 'There 
you may see the bear lying at guard with his red pinky eyes, watching the 
onset of the mastiff like a wily captain, who maintains his defence, that an 
assailant may be tempted to venture within his danger/ Vide 'Kenilworth.' 

Kenilworth wa3 visited by Queen Elizabeth in 1575. " Shakspeare and the 
players" did not begin to perform till (?) 1589. 

2 "An old English noun formed of the Latin gyrus, a circuit or compass; 
a career or circle. 



136 K EN IL WORTH CASTLE. 

a ts of the old Egyptians ; and also from him Conrad Gesnerus, 1 
(a great and learned man, and a very diligent writer in all good 
arguments of our time, but deceased ;) in the first chapter of his 
Mithridates, reporteth the same. As for this fellow, I cannot tell 
what to make of him, save that I may guess his hack be metalled 
like a lamprey, that has no bone, but a line like a lute-string. 
Well, Sir, let him pass and his feats, and this day's pastime withal, 
for here is as much as I can remember me for Thursday's enter- 
tainment. 

" Friday and Saturday there were no open shows abroad, be- 
cause the weather inclined to some moisture and wind, that Yery 
seasonably tempered the drought and the heat, caused by the con- 
tinuance of fair weather and sunshine all the while since her 
Majesty's thither coming. 

" On Sunday, opportunely, the weather broke up again ; and 
after divine service in the parish church for the sabbath-day, and 
a fruitful sermon there in the forenoon : At afternoon, in wor- 
ship of this Kenilworth Castle, and of God and Saint Kenelm, 
whose day, forsooth, by the Calendar this was, a solemn bridal of 
a proper couple was appointed : Set in order in the tilt-yard, to ' 
come and make their show before the Castle in the great court, 
where was pight a comely Quintain 2 for feats at arms, which 
when they had done, to march out at the north gate of the Castle 
homeward again into the town. 

1 " An eminent physician, naturalist, and scholar of the 16th century, who 
was horn at Zurich in 1516. He was made Professor of Greek at Lausanne, 
and at Basil he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After having pub- 
lished many valuable works in Botany, Medicine, Natural History, and Philo- 
logy, he died of the plague in 1565, aged forty-nine. His ' Mithridates/ men- 
tioned in the text, is a work on the difference of tongues throughout the 
world. 

2 " In the Glossary to Bishop Kennet's Parochial Antiquities, it is stated 
that the Quintain was a customary sport at weddings. It consisted of an 
upright piece with a cross piece, one end of which is broad, and pierced full of 
holes, and to the other is appended a bag of sand, which swings round upon 
the slightest blow. — ' The pastime was/ says Hasted, ' for the youth on horse- 
back to run at it as fast as possible, and hit the broad part in his career with 
n uch force. He that by chance hit it not at all was treated with loud peals 
of derision ; and be who did hit it, made the best use of his swiftness, lest he 
should have a sound blow on his neck from the bag of sand, which instantly 
swang round from the other end of the quintain. The great design of this 
sport was to try the agility of the horse and man, and to break the board, 
which whoever did, he was accounte 1 chief of the day's sport. 5 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 137 

" And thus were they marshalled. First, all the lusty lads and 
bold bachelors of the- parish, suitably habited every wight, with 
his blue buckram bride-lace 1 upon a branch of green broom (be- 
cause rosemary is scant there) tied on his left arm, for on that 
side lies the heart j and his alder pole for a spear in his right 
hand, in martial order ranged on afore, two and two in a rank : 
Some with a hat, some in a cap, some a coat, some a jerkin, some 
for lightness in doublet and hose, clean truss'd with points afore ; 
Some boots and no spurs, this spurs and no boots, and he again 
neither one nor other : One had a saddle, another a pad or a pan- 
nel fastened with a cord, for girths were geazon : 2 And these to 
the number of sixteen wights, riding men and well beseen : But 
the bridegroom foremost in his father's tawny worsted jacket, 
(for his friends were fain that he should be a bride-groom before 
the Queen) a fair straw hat with a capital crown, steeple-wise on 
his head ; a pair of harvest gloves on his hands, as a sign of good 
husbandry; a pen and ink-horn at his back, for he would be 
known to be bookish ; lame of a leg that in his youth was broken 
at foot-ball; weH beloved of his mother, who lent him a new 
muffler for a napkin, that was tied to his girdle for losing it. It 
was no small sport to mark this minion in his full appointment, 
that, through good tuition, became as formal in his action as had 
he been a bridegroom indeed ; with this special grace by the 
way, that ever as he would have framed to himself the better 
countenance, with the worst face he looked. 

" Well, Sir, after these horsemen, a lively morris-dance ac- 
cording to the ancient manner : six dancers, maid-marian, and 
the fool. Then three pretty pucelles, 3 as bright as a breast of 
bacon, of thirty years old a-piece ; that carried three special 
spice-cakes of a bushel of wheat (they had by measure, out of 
my Lord's bakehouse) before the bride, Cicely, with set coun- 
tenance and lips so demurely simpering, as it had been a 
mare cropping of a thistle. After these, a lovely loober-worts, 4 
freckled-faced, red-headed, clean trussed in his doublet and his 

1 " Laces of this description were anciently presented to all the guests at 
weddings, and scarfs at funerals. Vide Ellis's edit, of Brand. 

- " Or Geason, an ancient word, signifying rare or scarce. Vide Phillips. 

3 " A French word for maids or virgins. 

4 " A dull, heavy, and useless fellow. The word is probably derived from the 
Danish word hihben, gross or fat, and vorte, a wart or wen. Vide Wolff. — Shak- 
speare uses the latter word somewhat in this sense, when he makes Prince Henry 
t-ay of Palstafij ' I do allow this wen to he as familiar with me as my dog.' 



138 KSNILWORTH CASTLE. 

hose, taken up now indeed by commission, for that he was loath to 
come forward, for reverence belike of his new cut canvas doublet ; 
and would by his good will have been but a gazer, but found to 
be a meet actor for his office ; that was to bear the bride-cup, 
formed of a sweet sucket-barrel, 1 a fair turn'd foot set to it, all 
seemly besilvered and parcell 2 gilt adorned with a beautiful branch 
of broom, gaily begilded for rosemary : from which two broad 
bride-laces of red and yellow buckram begilded, and gallantly 
streaming by such wind as there was, for he carried it aloft : 
this gentle cup-bearer had his freckled physiognomy somewhat un- 
happily infested, as he went, by the busy flies, that flocked about 
the bride-cup, for the sweetness of the sucket that it savoured 
of; but he, like a tall fellow, withstood their malice stoutly — see 
what manhood may do — beat them away, killed them by scores, 
stood to his charge, and marched on in good order. 

" Then followed the worshipful bride, led, after the country 
manner, between two ancient parishioners, honest townsmen. 
But a stale stallion and a well spread (hot as the weather was,) 
God wot, and ill-smelling was she : thirty years old, 3 of colour 
brown-bay, not very beautiful indeed, but ugly, foul, and ill- 
favoured ; yet marvelous fond of the office, because she heard say 
she should dance before the Queen, in which feat she thought she 
would foot it as finely as the best : Well, after this bride there 
came, by two and two, a dozen damsels for bride-maids, that for 
favour, attire, for fashion and cleanliness, were as meet for such 
a bride as a tureen ladle for a porridge-pot : More, but for fear of 
carrying all clean, had been appointed, but these few were enough. 

"As the company in this order were come into the court, 
marvellous were the martial acts that were done there that day. 
The bride-groom, for pre-eminence, had the first course at the 
Quintain, and broke his spear with true hardiment ; but his mare 
in her manege did a little so titubate, that much ado had his man- 
hood to sit in his saddle, and escape the foil of a fall ; "With the 
help of his hand, yet he recovered himself, and lost not his stir- 
rups (for he had none to his saddle,) had no hurt as it happened, 
but only that his girth burst, and lost his pen and ink-horn which 
he was ready to weep for : but his handkercher, as good hap was, 

1 " A vessel used for containing sweetmeats, for which sncket is the ancient 
word. 

2 " Partially, or partly. 

3 "Another early copy reads 'thirty-five years old. 5 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 139 

found be safe at his girdle : that cheered him somewhat, and had 
good regard it should not be soiled. For though heat and cold 
had upon sundry occasions made him some times to sweat, and 
sometimes rheumatic, yet durst he be bolder to blow his nose and 
wipe his face with the flappet of his father's jacket, than with his 
mother's muffler: 'tis a goodly matter, when youth are mannerly 
brought up, in fatherly love and motherly awe. 

" Now, Sir, after the bride-groom had made his course, ran the 
rest of the band a while in some order ; but soon after, tag and 
rag, cut and long tail : where the specialty of the sport was, to 
see how some for their slackness had a good bob with the bag ; 
and some for their haste, too, would topple downright, and come 
down tumbling to the post : Some striving so much at the first 
setting out, that it seemed a question between the man and the 
beast, whether the course should be made on horseback or on 
foot : and put forth with the spurs, then would run his race by 
as among the thickest of the throng, that down came they to- 
gether, hand over head : Another, while he directed his course to 
the quintain, his jument 1 would carry him to a mare among the 
people ; so his horse was as amorous, as himself adventurous : 
Another, too, would run and miss the quintain with his staff, and 
hit the board with his head. 

" Many such frolicsome games were there among these riders ; 
who, by and by afterwards, upon a greater courage, left their 
quintaining, and ran at one another. There to see the stern 
countenances, the grim looks, the courageous attempts, the 
desperate adventures, the dangerous curvets, the fierce encounters, 
whereby the buff at the man, and the counterbuff at the horse, 
that both sometimes came topling to the ground : By my troth, 
Master Martin, 'twas a lively pastime ; I believe it would have 
moved a man to a right merry mood, though it had been told him 
that his wife lay dying. 

" And hereto followed as good a sport, methought, presented 
in an historical cue, by certain good-hearted men of Coventry, 2 

1 " A French word for a mare. 

2 " Previous to the suppression of the English Monasteries, the City of 
Coventry was particularly famed for the Pageants which were performed in it 
on the 14th of June, or Corpus- Christi day. This appears to have been one 
of the ancient fairs ; and the Gray Friars, or Friars Minors of the above City, 
had, as Dugdale relates, ' Theatres for the several scenes very large and high, 
placed upon wheels, and drawn to all the eminent parts of the City, for the 



140 KENILWORTII CASTLE. 

my Lord's neighbours there : who understanding among them 
the thing that could not be hidden from any : how careful and 
studious his Honour was, that by all pleasant recreations her 
Highness might best find herself welcome, and be made gladsome 
and merry, (the ground-work indeed and foundation of his 
Lordship's mirth, and gladness of us all,) made petition that they 
might renew now their old storial show : of argument how the 
Danes whilom here in a troublous season were for quietness borne 
withal and suffered in peace, that anon, by outrage and unsup- 
portable insolency, abusing both Ethelred the King, then, and 
all estates every where beside ; at the grievous complaint and 
counsel of Huna, the King's Chieftain in wars, on Saint Brice's 
night, Anno Dom. 1012, (as the book says, that falleth yearly on 
the thirteenth of November) were all dispatched and the Realm 
rid. And for because that the matter mentioneth how valiantly 
our English women, for love of their country, behaved themselves, 
expressed in action and rhymes after their manner, they thought 
it might move some mirth to her Majesty the rather. The thing, 
said they, is grounded in story, and for pastime wont to be 
played in our City yearly : without ill example of manners, 
papistry, or any superstition : and else did so occupy the heads 
of a number, that likely enough would have had worse medi- 
tations : had an ancient beginning and a long continuance till 
now of late laid down, they knew no cause why, unless it was by 
the zeal of certain of their preachers ; men very commendable for 
their behaviour and learning, and sweet in their sermons, but some- 
what too sour in preaching away their pastime : they wished there- 
fore, that as they should continue their good doctrine in pulpit, 
so, for matters of policy and governance of the City, they would 
permit them to the Mayor and the Magistrates : and said, by my 
faith, Master Martin, they would make their humble petition 
unto her Highness, that they might have their plays up again. 
" But aware, keep back, make room now, here they come — 
"And first, Captain Cox, an odd man, I promise you: by pro- 
fession a mason, and that right skilful ; very cunning in fence, 
and hardy as Gawain ; for his ton-sword hangs at his table's end ; 
great oversight hath he in matters of story: Eor as for King 

better advantage of the spectators : and contained the story of the Old and 
New Testament, composed in the old English rhyme/ Coventry appears to 
have derived great benefit from the numbers of persons who came to visit these 
pageants. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 141 

Arthur s Booh ; Huon of Bourdeaux ; The Four Sons of Aymon ; 
Bevis of Hampton ; The Squire of Low Degree; The Knight of 
Courtesy, and the Lady Faguell ; Frederick of Geneva; Sir 
Fglamour ; Sir Try amour ; Sir Lamivell ; Sir Isenbras ; Sir Ga- 
wain ; Oliver of the Castle ; Lucrece and Euryalus ; VirgiVs Life ; 
The Castle of Ladies ; The Widow Fdyth ; The King and the 
Tanner; Friar Rush; Howleglas ; Gargantua ; Robin Rood ; 
Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudesley ; The 
Churl and the Bird ; The Seven Wise Masters ; The Wife lapt in 
a MoreV s-skin ; The Sack-full of News ; The Serjeant that became 
a Friar ; Scogan ; Colin Clout ; The Friar and the Boy ; Elynour 
Bumming ; and The Nutbrown Maid; with many more than I 
rehearse here — I believe he hath them all at his fingers' ends. 

" Then in philosophy, both moral and natural, I think he be as 
naturally overseen ; beside poetry and astronomy, and other hid 
sciences, as I may guess by the omberty of his books ; whereof 
part, as I remember, The Shepherds'' Kalendar ; The Ship of Fools ; 
DanieVs Breams ; The Book of Fortune ; Stans Buer ad Mensam ; 
The Highway to the Spittle-house; Julian of Brentford's Testa- 
ment; The Castle of Love ; The Budget of Demands; The 
Hundred Merry Tales ; The Book of Riddles ; The Seven Sorrows 
of Women ; The Proud Wives Bater-Noster ; The Chapman of a 
Benny worth of Wit. Besides his ancient plays, Youth and 
Charity ; Hickskorner ; Nugizee ; Lmpatient Poverty ; and here- 
with Dr. Boord's Breviary of Health. What should I rehearse 
here ; what a bunch of ballads and songs, all ancient : as Broom 
broom on Hill; So woe is one begone, trolly lo ; Over a Whinny 
Meg ; Hey ding a ding ; Bonny lass upon a green ; My bonny 
one gave me a beck ; By a bank as 1 lay : and a hundred more 
he hath fair wrapt up in parchment, and bound with a whipcord. 
And as for Almanacs of antiquity, (a point for Ephemerides) I 
ween he can show from Jasper Laet of Antwerp unto Nostra- 
damus of France, and thence unto our John Securiz of Salisbury. 
To stay ye no longer herein, I dare say he hath as fair a library 
of these sciences, and as many goodly monuments both in prose 
and poetry, and at afternoons can talk as much without book, as 
any inn-holder between Brentford aud Bagshot, what degree 
soever he be. 

" Besides this, in the field a good marshal at musters ; of very 
great credit and trust in the town here ; for he has been chosen 
ale-conner many a year, when his betters have stood by ; and 



142 K EN I L WORTH CASTLE. 

hath ever acquitted himself with such estimation, as to taste of a 
cup of Nippitate, his judgement will be taken above the best in 
the parish, be his nose ne'er so red. 

" Captain Cox came marching on valiantly before, clean trussed 
and gartered above the knee, all fresh in a velvet cap (Master 
Golding lent it him,) flourishing with his ton-sword ; and another 
fence-master with him : Thus in the forward making room for the 
rest. After them, proudly pricked on foremost, the Danish 
lance-knights on horseback, and then the English: Each with 
their alder pole martially in their hand. Even at the first entry, 
the meeting waxed somewhat warm ; that by and by, kindled 
with courage on both sides, grew from a hot skirmish unto a 
blazing battle : first by spear and shield, outrageous in their races 
as rams at their rut ; with furious encounters, that together they 
tumbled to the dust, sometimes horse and man, and after fall to 
it with sword and target, good bangs on both sides. The fight so 
ceasing, but the battle not so ended : then followed the footmen ; 
both the hosts, one after the other: — first marching in ranks; 
then warlike turning ; then from ranks into squadrons ; then into 
triangles ; from that into rings, and so winding out again. A 
valiant Captain of great prowess, as fierce as a fox assaulting a 
goose, was so hardy to give the first stroke : then got they so 
grisly together, that great was the activity that day to be seen 
there on both sides : the one very eager for purchase of prey, the 
other utterly stout for redemption of liberty : thus, quarrel en- 
flamed the fury on both sides : twice the Danes had the better, 
but at the last conflict, beaten down, overcome, and many led 
captive for triumph by our English women. 

" This was the effect of this show ; that as it was handled, 
made much matter of good pastime, brought all, indeed, into the 
great court, even under her Highness's window, to have seen : 
but as unhappy it was for the bride, that came thither too soon, 
(and yet it was four o'clock,) for her Highness beholding in the 
chamber delectable dancing indeed, and therewith the great 
throng and unruliness of the people, was cause that this solemnity 
of bridal and dancing had not the full muster that was hoped for. 
Her Highness also saw but little of the Coventry play, and com- 
manded it therefore on the Tuesday following to have it full out : 
as accordingly it was presented ; whereat her Majesty laughed 
well: They were the merrier, and so much the more, because her 
Highness had given them two bucks and five marks in money, to 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 143 

make merry together: They prayed for her Majesty, long happily 
to reign, and oft to come thither, that oft they might see her : 
And what rejoicing upon their ample reward, and what triumphing 
upon the good acceptance, they vaunted their play was never so 
dignified, nor ever any players before so beatified. 

" Thus, tho' the day took an end, yet slipped not the night all 
sleeping away : for as neither office nor obsequy ceased at any 
time to the full, to perform the plot his Honour had appointed, 
so after supper was there a play of a very good theme presented : 
but so set forth, by the actors well handling, that pleasure and 
mirth made it seem very short, tho' it lasted two good hours and 
more. But stay, Master Martin, all is not done yet. 

" After the play, out of hand followed a most delicious and (if 
I may so term it) an ambrosial banquet : whereof, whether I 
might more muse at the daintiness, shapes, and the cost ; or else, 
at the variety and number of the dishes (that were three hundred), 
for my part, I could little tell then; and now less, I assure you. 
Her Majesty eat smally or nothiug; which understood, the courses 
were not so orderly served and sizely set down, but were, by and 
by, as disorderly wasted and coarsely consumed ; more courtly, 
methought, than courteously : But that was no part of the 
matter : it might please and be liked, and do that it came for, 
then was all well enough. 

" Unto this banquet there was appointed a masque : for riches 
of array of an incredible cost : but the time being so far spent, 
and very late in the night now, was cause that it came not forth 
to the show : And thus for Sunday's season, having staid you the 
longer, according to the matter, here make I an end : Te may 
breathe ye awhile. 

" Monday the eighteenth of this July, the weather being hot, 
her Highness kept the Castle for coolness, till about five o'clock, 
her Majesty in the chase hunted the hart (as afore) of force : that 
whether were it by the cunning of the huntsmen, or by the 
natural desire of the deer, or else by both ; anon he got him to 
soil again, which raised the accustomed delight : a pastime indeed 
so entirely pleasant, as whereof at times who may have the full 
and free fruition, can find no more satiety (I ween) for the re- 
creation, than of their good viands at times for their sustenance. 

" "Well, the game was gotten : and her Highness returning, 
came there upon a swimming mermaid, (that from top to tail was 
eighteen feet long,) Triton, Neptune's blaster: who with his 



144 KENILWORTH CAS1LE. 

trumpet formed of a wrinkled welk, as her Majesty was in sight, 
gave sound very shrill and sonorous, in sign he had an embassy 
to pronounce. Anon her Highness was comiBg upon the bridge, 
whereupon he made his fish to swim the swifter : he then de- 
clared — ' How the supreme salsipotent 1 monarch Neptune, the 
' great Grod of the swelling seas, Prince of profundities, and 
' Sovereign Signor of all lakes, fresh waters, rivers, creeks, and 
' gulphs ; understanding how a cruel Knight, one Sir Bruce sans 
1 pitie, a mortal enemy unto ladies of estate, had long lain about 
' the banks of this pool, in wait with his bands here, to distress 
' the Lady of the Lake, whereby she had been restrained not only 
' from having any use of her ancient liberty and territories in 
' these parts ; but also of making repair and giving attendance 
' unto you, Noble Queen, (quo' he) as she would ; she promised, 
' and also should ; doth therefore signify, and hereto, of you, as 
' of her good liege and dear friend, make this request, that you 
' will deign but to shew your person toward this pool ; whereby 
1 your only presence shall be matter sufficient of abandoning this 
' uncourteous Knight, and putting all his bands to flight, and 
' also deliver the Lady out of this thraldom.' 

" Moving herewith from the bridge, and fleeting more into the 
pool, charged he in Neptune's name JEolus with all his winds, the 
waters with his springs, his fish and fowl, and all his clients in 
the same, that they ne be so hardy in any force to stir, but keep 
them calm and quiet while this Queen be present. At which 
petition her Highness staying, it appeared strait how Sir Bruce 
became unseen, his bands scaled, 2 and the Lady, by and by, with 
her two Nymphs floating upon her moveable Islands, Triton, on 
his mermaid skimming by, approached towards her Highness on 
the bridge, — as well to declare that her Majesty's presence had 
so graciously thus wrought her deliverance, as also to excuse her 
not coming to court as she promised, and chiefly to present her 
Majesty, as a token of her duty and good heart, for her Highness' 
recreation, with this gift : which was, Arion, that excellent and 
famous musician ; in tire and appointment strange, well seeming 
to his person, riding aloft upon his old friend the dolphin, that 
from head to tail was four and twenty feet long, and swam hard 

1 " An epithet derived from the Latin salsipotens, which signifies one who 
has power over the salt seas ; in which sense it is nsed hy Plautus. Ains- 
ivorth. 

2 " Came away. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 145 

by these Islands. Herewith, Arion, for these great benefits, 
after a few well-couched words iinto her Majesty of thanksgiving, 
in supplement of the same, began a delectable ditty of a song 
well apted to a melodious noise ; compounded of six several in- 
struments, all covert, casting sound from the dolphin's belly 
within: Arion, the seventh, sitting thus singing (as I say) 
without. 

" Now, Sir, the ditty in metre so aptly endited to the matter, 
and after by voice deliciously delivered. The song, by a skilful 
artist into his parts so sweetly sorted ; each part in his instru- 
ment so clean and sharply touched ; every instrument again in 
his kind so excellently tunable ; and this in the evening of the 
day, resounding from the calm waters, where the presence of her 
Majesty, and longing to listen, had utterly damped all noise and 
din; the whole harmony conveyed in time, tune, and temper 
thus incomparably melodious; with what pleasure, (Master 
Martin,) with what sharpness of conceit, with what lively delight, 
this might pierce into the hearers' hearts, I pray ye imagine 
yourself, as ye may ; for, so Grod judge me, by all the wit and 
cunning I have, I cannot express, I promise you. ' Mais j'ai 
' bien vu cela, Monsieur, que fort grande est la pouvoir qu'avoit 
' la tres noble science de Musique sur l'esprit humain.' Perceive 
ye me ? I have told you a great matter now : As for me, surely 
I was lulled in such liking, and so loath to leave off, that much 
ado a good while after had I, to find me where I was. And take 
ye this by the way, that for the small skill in music that God 
hath sent me (you know it is somewhat), I'll set the more by 
myself while my name is Laneham ; and, grace of Grod, music is 
a noble art ! 

" But stay a while, see a short wit : by troth I had almost 
forgot. This day was a day of grace beside, wherein were ad- 
vanced five gentlemen of worship unto the degree of Knighthood ; 
Sir Thomas Cecil, son and heir unto the right honorable the 
Lord Treasurer; Sir Henry Gotham, brother unto the Lord 
Cobham ; Sir Thomas Stanhope; Sir Arthur Basset; and Sir 
Thomas Tresham. And also by her Highness' accustomed mercy 
and charity, nine were cured of the painful and dangerous disease 
called the King's Evil ; for that Kings and Queens of this Realm, 
without other medicine, save only by handling and prayers, do 
cure it: Bear with me, though perchance I place not those 
gentlemen in my recital here, after their estates ; for I am neither 

10 



146 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

a good herald of arms, nor yet know how they are set in the 
subsidy books : men of great worship I understand they are all. 

" Tuesday, according to commandment, came our Coventry 
men. What their matter was, of her Highness' mirth and good 
acceptance, and reward unto them, and of their rejoicing thereat, 
I have informed you before, and so say the less now. 

" Wednesday, in the forenoon, preparation was in hand for her 
Majesty to have supped in Wedgenall, three miles west from the 
Castle, a goodly Park of the Queen's Majesty. 1 Tor that cause 
a fair pavilion, and other provision was accordingly thither sent 
and prepared : but by means of the weather not so clearly dis- 
posed, the matter was countermanded again. Had her Highness 
happened this day to have come abroad, there was made ready a 
device of Goddesses and Nymphs, which, as well for the ingenious 
argument, as for the well handling of it in rhyme and enditing, 
would undoubtedly have gained great liking, and moved no less 
delight. Of the particularities whereof, however, I cease to 
entreat, lest like the bungling carpenter, by mis-sorting the 
pieces, I mar a good frame in the bad setting up ; or by my bad 
tempering beforehand, blemish the beauty, when it should be 
reared up indeed. This day also was there such earnest talk and 
appointment of removing, that I gave over my noting, and 
hearkened after my horse. 

" Marry, Sir, I must tell you : As all endeavour was to move 
mirth and pastime (as I told you), even so, a ridiculous device of 
an ancient minstrel and his song, was prepared to have been 
proffered, if meet time and place had been found for it. Once in 
a worshipful company, where I chanced to be, full appointed, he 
recounted his matter in sort as it should have been uttered. 
What I noted, here thus, I tell you. — 

" A person very meet seemed he for the purpose, of forty -five 
years old, apparelled partly as he would himself. His cap of his 
head, seemly rounded tonsor-wise ; 2 fair combed, that with a 
sponge daintily dipped in a little capon's grease was finely 
smoothed, to make it shine like a mallard's wing. His beard 

1 " The Duchess of Portland's copy reads ' a goodly park of the right 
honorable my very good Lord the Earl of Warwick.' It still belongs to that 
noble family, and is now called WedgnocJc Park. — Nichols's Progresses, 1788, 
Vol. i. 

2 " More properly written tonsure-wise ; that is to say, shaven in a circle 
after the manner of the monks. Vide Percy. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 147 

smugly shaven ; and yet his shirt after the new trick, with ruffs 
fair starched, sleeked and glistering like a pair of new shoes ; 
marshalled in good order with a setting-stick, and stout that 
every ruff stood up like a wafer. A side gown of Kendal green, 1 
after the freshness of the year now ; gathered at the neck with a 
narrow gorget, fastened afore with a white clasp, and a keeper, 
close up to the chin ; but easily for heat to undo when he list, 
seemly begirt in a red Cadiz girdle ; from that a pair of capped 
Sheffield knives hanging to a side : Out of his bosom drawn forth 
a lappet of his napkin, edged with blue lace, and marked with a 
truelove [knot], a heart, and a D. for Damian, for he was but a 
batchelor yet. 

" His gown had side [i. e. long] sleeves down to mid-leg, slit 
from the shoulder to the hand, and lined with white cotton. His 
doublet-sleeves of black worsted; upon tbem a pair of poignets 
[i. e. wristbands] of tawny camblet, laced along the wrist with 
blue threaden points ; a welt toward the Land of fustian-a-napes : 
a pair of red nether-stocks ; a pair of pumps on his feet, with a 
cross cut at the toes for corns j not new indeed, yet cleanly 
blacked with soot, and shining as a shoe-ing horn. About his 
neck, a red riband suitable to his girdle. His harp in good 
grace dependent before him ; his wrest tied to a green lace and 
hanging by. Under the gorget of his gown, a fair naggon chain 
of pewter (for silver), as a Squire Minstrel of Middlesex ; that 
travelled the country this summer season unto fairs, and wor- 
shipful men's houses. From his chain hung an escutcheon, with 
metal and colour, resplendent upon his breast, of the ancient 
arms of Islington : Upon a question whereof, he, as one that was 
well schooled, and conned his lesson perfect without book to 
answer at full, if question were asked him, declared : ' How the 
' worshipful village of Islington in Middlesex, well known to be 
' one of the most ancient and best towns in England next London 
' at this day, for the faithful friendship of long time shown, as 
' well at Cook's feast in Aldersgate-street yearly upon Holy-rood 
' day, as also at all solemn bridals in the city of London all the 
' year after ; in well serving them of furmety for porridge, not 

1 " ' A side goion of Kendal green,' was a long hanging robe of coarse green 
woollen cloth or baize, for the manufacture of which the town of Kendal in 
Westmoreland was very anciently celebrated. 



148 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

oversodden till it be too weak : of milk for their flawnes, 1 not 
pild nor chalked ; of cream for their custards, not frothed nor 
thickened with flour ; and of butter for their pasties and pie- 
paste, not made of well curds, nor gathered of whey in summer, 
nor mingled in winter with salt-butter watered or washed ; did 
obtain long ago, these worshipful arms in colour and form as 
you see : which are — The arms : a field Argent, as the field and 
ground indeed wherein the milk-wives of this worthy town, and 
every man else in his faculty doth trade for his living. On a fess 
tenne, three plates between three milk-tankards proper. The 
three milk-tankards, as the proper vessels wherein the substance 
and matter of their trade is to and fro transported. The fess 
tenne, which is a colour betokening doubt and suspicion ; so as 
suspicion and good heed-taking, as well to their markets and 
servants, as to their customers that they trust not too far, may 
bring unto them plates, that is coined silver; three, that is 
sufficient and plenty ; for so that number in armory may well 
signify. 

" ' For crest, upon a wad of oat-straw for a wreath, a bowl of 
furmety. "Wheat (as you know) is the most precious gift of 
Ceres; and in the midst of it, sticking, a dozen of horn-spoons 
in a bunch, as the instrument meetest to eat furmety porridge 
withal ; a dozen, as a number complete for full cheer or a banquet ; 
and of horn, as of a substance more estimable than is made for 
a great deal ; being neither so churlish in weight, as metal ; nor 
so froward and brittle to manure, as stone ; nor yet so soily in 
use, nor rough to the lips, as wood; but light, pliant, and 
smooth : that with a little licking, will always be kept as clean 
as a die. "With your patience, G-entlemen,' (quoth the Min- 
strel) ' be it said ; were it not indeed that horns be so plenty, 
horn ware, I believe, would be more set by than it is ; and yet 
there are in our parts, those that will not stick to avow, that 
many an honest man, both in city and country, hath had his 
house by horning well upholden, and a daily friend also at need : 
And this with your favour may I further affirm ; a very inge- 
nious person was he, that for dignity of the stuff, could thus by 
spooning devise to advance the horn so near to the head. With 
great congruity also were these horn-spoons put to the wheat ; 
as a token and portion of Cornucopia, the horn of Achelous ; 

1 " Phillips describes a flawn to be f a kind of dainty made of fine flour, 
eggs, and butter.' 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 149 

1 which the Maiades did fill with all good fruits, corn, and grain ; 
1 and afterwards did consecrate unto abundance and plenty. 

" ' This scutcheon with beasts, very aptly agreeing both to the 
' arms and to the trade of the bearers ; gloriously supported. 
' Between a grey mare (a beast meetest for carrying of milk- 
' tankards) her pannel on her back, as always ready for service at 
1 every feast and brid-ale at need ; her tail displayed at most 
1 ease ; and her filly foal, with a fallow and flaxen mane after the 
' sire. 

" ' In the scroll undergraven (quoth he) is there a proper word, 
' an hemistich, well squaring with all the rest, taken out of 
1 Salerne's chapter of things that most nourish man's body: Lac, 
1 Caseus infans. That is : ' good milk, and young cheese.' And 
1 thus much, Gentlemen, an please you (quoth he) for the arms 

* of our worshipful town:'" And therewithal made a mannerly 
leg, and so held his peace. 

" As the company paused, and the minstrel seemed to gape 
after praise for his beau parte : and because he had rendered his 
lesson so well, says a good fellow of the company, ' I am sorry to 

* see how much the poor Minstrel mistakes the matter; for 
' indeed the arms are thus : — 

" ' Three milk-tankards proper, in a field of clouted cream, three 
1 green cheeses upon a shelf of cake-bread. The furmety bowl and 
' horn-spoons ; cause their profit comes all by horned beasts. 

* Supported by a mare with a galled back, and therefore still 
' covered with a pannel, fisking with her tail for flies, and her filly 
' foal neighing after the dam for suck. The words Lac, Caseus 
1 infans, that is, a fresh cheese and cream, the common cry that 
' these milk- wives make in London streets yearly betwixt Easter 
' and "Whitsuntide : and this is the very matter, I know it well 
' enough :' and so ended his tale and sat him down again. 

" Hereat every man laughed much, save the Minstrel ; that 
though the fool was made privy all was but for sport, yet to see 
himself thus crossed with a contrary cue that he looked not for, 
would strait have given over all, and waxed very wayward, eager, 
and sour : howbeit at last, by some entreaty and many fair words, 
with sack and sugar, we sweetened him again ; and afterward he 
became as merry as a pye. Appearing then afresh, in his full 
formality, with a lovely look ; after three lowly courtesies, cleared 
his voice with a hem and reach, and spat out withal ; wiped his 
lips with the hollow of his hand, for filling his napkin ; tempered a 



150 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

string or two with his wrest, and after a little warbling on his harp 
for a prelude, came forth with a solemn song, warranted for story 
out of King Arthur's acts, the 1st book and 26th chapter, 
whereof I got a copy ; and that is this, viz. 



" THE MINSTKEl/s SONNET. 

"So it befell upon a Pentecost day, 
When King Arthur at Camelot 1 kept court royal, 
With his comely Queen, dame Guenever the gay, 
And many hold Barons sitting in hall ; 
Ladies apparelled in purple and pall, 
When Heralds in hukes 2 herried full by, 
Largess, Largess, 3 Chevaliers tres hardy ! 

"A doughty dwarf unto the uppermost deas 4 
Right pertly 'gan prick, 5 and kneeling on knee, 
With steven 6 full stout amidst all the press, 
Said, Hail, Sir King, God thee save, and see 
King Eyence of North- Wales greeteth well thee, 
And bids that thy beard anon thou him send, 
Or else from thy jaws he will it off rend. 

" For his robe of state, a rich scarlet mantle, 
With eleven king's beards bordered about, 
He hath made late, and yet in a cantle 7 
Is left a place the twelfth to make out, 
Where thine must stand, be thou never so stout ; 

1 " The city of Winchester. 

2 " The original word in this ballad is Tiewkes, which is derived from the 
French Imque, a cloak. The tabards, or surcoats, of the ancient heralds, were 
often denominated houces, or housings ; and this expression was applied, in- 
discriminately, to their coats of arms, as well as to a dark-coloured robe 
without sleeves, edged with fur, which they formerly wore. 

3 " A cry used by the heralds whenever they were rewarded by knights or 
sovereigns. It is still in use at a Coronation. It is a French expression, sig- 
nifying a present or gift. 

4 « ^he highest or principal table in a hall, which usually stood upon a plat- 
form. The word comes from the French dais, a canopy, as such a covering 
was usually erected over the chief seats. 

5 " Pressed hastily forwards. 

6 " Voice, sounds. 

7 " A piece, or part. Shakspeare uses the word in King Henry IV. part I. 
act 3, scene 1. 

" ' And cuts me, from the best of all my land, 
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.' 



KENIL WORTH CASTLE. 151 

This must be done, I tell thee no fable, 
Maugre the pow'r of all thy Round Table. 

" "When this mortal message from his mouth was past, 
Great was the bruit in hall and in bow'r ; 
The King fumed, the Queen shrieked, Ladies were aghast, 
Princes puff'd, Barons blustered, Lords began to lour, 
Knights stamped, 'Squires startled as steeds in a stour, 1 
Yeomen and Pages yell'd out in the hall, 
When herewith came in Sir Kay, Seneschal. 

'* ' Silence, my sufferaunce,' quoth the courteous Knight, 
And in that stound the charm became still ; 
The Dwarf's dinner full dearly was dight, 
For wine and wassail he had at his will ; 
And when he had eaten and fed his filL 
One hundred pieces of coined gold 
Were given the Dwarf for his message bold. 

" ' Say to Sir Ryence, thou Dwarf,' quoth the King, 
1 That for this proud message I him defy, 
And shortly with basons and pans will him ring 
Out of North Wales ; whereas he and I 
With swords and no razors, shall utterly try 
Which of us both is the better barber :' 
And therewith he shook his sword Excaliber ! 

" At this the Minstrel made a pause and a courtesy for primus 
passus. More of the song there is, but I got it not. As for the 
matter, had it come to the shew, I think the fellow would have 
handled it well enough. 

" Her Highness tarried at Kenilworth till the "Wednesday after, 
being the 27th of this July, and the nineteenth inclusive of her 
Majesty's coming thither ; for which seven days, perceiving my 
notes so slenderly answering, I took it less blame to cease, and 
thereof to write you nothing at all, than in such matters to write 
nothing likely ; and so much the rather, (as I have well bethought 
me) that if I did but ruminate the days I have spoken of, I shall 
bring out yet somewhat more meet for your appetite, (though a 
dainty tooth have ye) which I believe your tender stomach will 
brook well enough. 

" Whereof part is, first, how according to her Highness' name 
Elizabeth, which I hear say, out of the Hebrew signifieth, among 

1 "A battle. 



152 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

other, the seventh of my God; divers things here did so justly in 
number square with the same. As first, her Highness hither 
coming in this seventh month; then presented with the seven 
presents of the seven Gods ; and after, with the melody of the 
seven sorted music in the dolphin, the Lake-Lady's gift. Then, 
too, consider how fully the Glods, as it seemed, had conspired 
most magnificently in abundance to bestow their influences and 
gifts upon her Court, there to make her Majesty merry. 

" Sage Saturn himself in person (that because of his lame leg 
could not so well stir) in chair, therefore to take order with the 
grave officers of the household, holpen indeed with the good advice 
of his prudent niece Pallas, that no unruly body, or disquiet, 
disturb the noble assembly, or else be once so bold to enter 
within the Castle gates. Away with all rascals, captives, melan- 
cholic, wayward, froward conjurers and usurers, and to have 
labourers and under-workmen for the beautifying of any place, 
always at hand as they should be commanded. 

" Jupiter sent personages of high honour and dignity ; Barons, 
Lords, Ladies, Judges, Bishops, Lawyers, and Doctors; with, 
them, Virtue, Nobleness, Equity, Liberality, and Compassion; 
due season, and fair weather ; saving that, at the petition of his 
dear sister Geres, he granted a day or two of some sweet showers 
for ripening of her corn that was so well set, and to get forward 
harvest. Herewith bestowed he such plenty of pleasant thunder, 
lightning, and thunderbolts, by his halting son and fire-master 
Vulcan, still fresh and fresh framed, always so frequent, so intel- 
lable, and of such continuance in the spending (as I partly told 
ye) consumed, that surely he seems to be as of power inestimable ; 
so, in store of munition, unwasteable ; for all Ovid's censure that 



" Si quoties peccant homines sua fuhnina mittat 
Jupiter, exiguo tempore inermis erit. 

If Jove should shoot his thunderbolts, as oft as men offend, 
Assure you his artillery would soon he at an end \" 

What a number of estates and of nobility had Jupiter assembled 
there, guess you by this, that of sort worshipful there were in 
the Court daily above forty, whereof the meanest of a thousand 
marks yearly revenue, and many of much more. This great gift 
beside did his Deity confer upon her Highness — to have fair and 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 153 

seasonable weather at her own appointment ; according where- 
unto her Majesty so had. For her gracious presence, therefore, 
with this great gift endowed, Lichfield, Worcester, and Middleton, 
with many places more, made humble suit unto her Highness to 
come ; to such whereof as her Majesty could, it came, and the 
season acceptable. 

"Phoebus, beside his continual and most delicious music, (as I 
have told you) appointed he Princes to adorn her Highness' 
court, Counsellors, Heralds, and sanguine Youth, pleasant and 
merry, costly garments, learned physicians, and no need of 
them. 

"Juno, Gold chains, ouches, jewels of great price and rich 
attire worn in much grace and good beseeming, without pride or 
emulation of any. 

" Mars, Captains of good conduct, men skilful in feats of arms, 
politic in stratagems, of good courage in good quarrels, valiant 
and wise-hardy ; abandoning pique -quarrels and ruffians : ap- 
pointing also pursuivants, couriers, and posts, still feeding her 
Highness with news and intelligences from all parts. 

" Venus, Unto the Ladies and Gentlewomen, beauty, good 
favour, comeliness, gallant attire, dancing with comely grace, 
sweet voice in song and pleasant talk, with express command- 
ment and charge unto her son, on her blessing, that he shoot not 
a shaft in the Court all the while her Highness remained at 
Kenilworth. 

" Mercury, Learned men in sciences ; Poets, Merchants, 
Painters, Carvers, Players, Engineers, Devicers, and dexterity in 
handling of all pleasant attempts. 

" Luna, Calm nights for quiet rest, and silver moonshine, that 
nightly indeed shone for most of her Majesty's being there. 

" Blind Plutus, Bags of Money, Customers, Exchangers, and 
Bankers, with store of riches in plate and in coin. 

" Bacchus, Eull cups every where, every hour of all kinds of 
wine. There was no dainty that the sea could yield, but Neptune 
(though his reign at the nearest lay well nigh a hundred mile3 
off) did daily send in great plenty, sweet and fresh. As for fresh- 
water fish, the store of all sorts was abundant. 

" And how bountiful Ceres in provision was, guess ye by this, 
that in little more than three days space, seventy-two tuns of ale 
and beer were piped up quite ; what that might, whilst with it, of 
bread beside meat, I report me to you : and yet the Master 



154 KENILWOIITH CASTLE. 

Comptroller, Master Cofferer, and divers Officers of the court, 
some honorable and sundry right worshipful were placed at 
"Warwick, for more room in the Castle. But here was no ho ! 
Master Martin, in devout drinking alway ; that brought lack un- 
locked for ; which being known to the worshipful my lord's good 
neighbours, came there in two days' space, from sundry friends, 
a relief of forty tuns, till a new supply was got again : and then 
to our drinking afresh as fast as ever we did. 

"Flora, Abroad and within the house, ministered of flowers so 
great a quantity, of such sweet savour, so beautiful]y hued, so 
large and fair proportion, and of such strange kinds and shapes, 
that it was great pleasure to see : and so much the more, as there 
was great store of others that were counterfeit, and formed of 
feathers by art; alike glorious to the show, as were the 
natural. 

" Proteus, His tumbler, that could by nimbleness cast himself 
into so many forms and fashions. 

" Pan, His merry morrice-dance, with their pipe and 
tabor. 

" Bellona, Her Quintain Knights, and proper bickerings of the 
Coventry men. 

" Polyphemus,- Neptune's son and heir , (let him I pray, an it 
be but for his father's sake and for his good will, be allowed for a 
G-od,) with his bears, his bear-whelps, and ban-dogs. 

" JEolus, Holding up his winds, while her Highness at any time 
took pleasure on the water, and staying of tempests during her 
abode here. 

ls Sylvanus, Besides his plentiful provision of fowl for dainty 
viands, his pleasant and sweet singing birds : whereof I will show 
you more anon. 

" Echo, Her well endited dialogue. 

" F annus, His jolly savage. 

" Genius loci, His tempering of all things within and without 
with apt time and place to pleasure and delight. 

" Then the three Charities : [or Graces] Aglaia, with her 
lightsome gladness ; Thalia, her flourishing freshness ; Buphro- 
syne, her cheerfulness of spirit : and with these three in one 
assent, Concordia, with her amity and good agreement. That to 
how great effect their powers were poured out here among us, let 
it be judged by this, that by a multitude thus met of three or 
four thousand every day ; and divers days more, of so sundry 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 155 

degrees, professions, ages, appetites, dispositions and affections ; 
such a drift of time was there passed, with such amity, love, 
pastime, agreement, and obedience where it should ; and without 
quarrel, jarring, grudging, or (that I could hear) of ill words 
between any. A thing, Master Martin, very rare and strange, 
and yet no more strange than true. 

" The Parcce, [or Fates] as erst I should have said, the first 
night of her Majesty's coming, they hearing and seeing so pre- 
cious ado here at a place unlooked for, in an uplandish country so 
far within the realm : pressing into every stead where her High- 
ness went, whereby so duddled with such variety of delights, did 
set aside their huswifery, and could not for their hearts tend their 
work a whit. But after they had seen her Majesty a-bed, got 
them a prying into every place : Old hags ! as fond of novelties 
as young girls that had never seen court before : but neither full 
with gazing, nor weary with gadding ; left off yet for that time, 
and at high midnight gat them giggling, (but not aloud) in the 
Presence Chamber : minding indeed, with their present diligence, 
to recompense their former slackness. 

" So, setting themselves thus down to their work, ' Alas !' says 
Atropos, 'I have lost my sheers:' Lachesis laughed apace and 
would not draw a thread : ' And think ye, dames, that I'll hold 
the distaff, while both ye sit idle ? Why, no, by my mother's 
soul,' quoth ClotJw. Therewith, carefully lapped in fine lawn, the 
spindle and rock, 1 that was dizened with pure purple silk, laid 
they safely up together ; that of her Majesty's distaff, for eighteen 
days, there was not a thread spun, I assure you. The two sisters 
after that (I heard say) began their work again, that long may 
they continue : but Atropos heard no tiding of her sheers, and not 
a man that moaned her loss. She is not beloved surely ; for this 
can I tell you, that whether it be for hate to the hag, or love to 
her Highness, or else for both, every man prays Grod she may 
never find them for that work ; and so pray I daily and duly with 
the devoutest. 

" Thus partly you perceive now, how greatly the Gods can do 
for mortals, and how much always they love where they like : that 
what a gentle Jove was this, thus courteously to contrive here such 

1 " A distaff held in the hand, from which the wool was spun hy a hall fixed 
below on a spindle, upon which every thread was wound up as it was done. 
It was the ancient way of spinning, and is still in use in many northern 
counties. Vide Bailey. 



156 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

a train of G-ods ? Nay then rather, Master Martin, to come out 
of our poeticalities, and to talk on more serious terms, what a 
magnificent Lord may we justly account him, that could so highly 
cast order for such a Jupiter and all his G-ods beside : that none 
with his influence, good property, or present, were wanting ; but 
always ready at hand, in such order and abundance for the honour- 
ing and delight of so high a Prince, our most gracious Queen and 
Sovereign. A Prince (I say) so singular in pre-eminence, and 
worthiness above all other Princes and Dignities of our time : 
though I make no comparison to years past, to him that in this 
point, either of ignorance — (if any such can be), or else of ma- 
levolence, would make any doubt : sit liber Judex (as they say) ; 
let him look on the matter, and answer himself, he has not far to 
travel. 

" As for the amplitude of his Lordship's mind, albeit that I, 
poor soul, can in conceit no more attain unto, than judge of a 
gem whereof I have no skill : yea, though daily worn and re- 
splendent in mine eye ; yet some of the virtues and properties 
thereof, in quantity, or quality, so apparent as cannot be hidden, 
but seen of all men, might I be the bolder to report here unto 
you ; but as for the value, your jewellers by their carats let them 
cast, an they can. 

" And first, who that considers unto the stately seat of Kenil- 
worth Castle, the rare beauty of building that his Honour hath ad- 
vanced, all of the hard quarry-stone : every room so spacious, so 
well belighted, and so high roofed within : so seemly to sight by 
due proportion without ; In day-time on every side so glittering 
by glass ; at nights, by continual brightness of candle, fire, and 
torch-light, transparent thro' the lightsome windows, as it were 
the Egyptian Pharos relucent unto all the Alexandrian coast : or 
else, (to talk merrily with my merry friend,) thus radiant, as 
though Phoebus for his ease would rest him in the Castle, and not 
every night so to travel down unto the Antipodes. Here, too, 
so fully furnished of rich apparel and utensils apted in all points 
to the best. 

" Unto this, his Honour's exquisite appointment of a beautiful 
garden, an acre or more in quantity, that lieth on the north there : 
"Wherein hard all along by the Castle wall, is reared a pleasant 
terrace, ten feet high, and twelve feet broad, even under foot, and 
fresh of fine grass ; as is also the side thereof towards the garden : 
In which, by sundry equal distances, with obelisks, and spheres, 






KENILWORTH CASTLE. 157 

and white bears, 1 all of stone upon their curious bases, by goodly 
shew were set ; To these, two fine arbours redolent by sweet trees 
and flowers, at each end one, the garden plot under that, with fair 
alleys, green by grass, even voided from the borders on both sides, 
and some (for change) with sand, not light, or too soft, or soily 
by dust, but smooth and firm, pleasant to walk on, as a sea-shore 
when the water is availed. Then, much gracified by due propor- 
tion of four even quarters : in the midst of each, upon a base of 
two feet square, and high, seemly bordered of itself, a square 
pilaster rising pyramidically fifteen feet high. Symmetrically 
pierced through from a foot beneath to two feet of the top : 
whereupon, for a capital, an orb of ten inches thick ; every of 
these, with its base, from the ground to the top, of one whole 
piece ; hewn out of hard porphyry, and with great art and heed 
(think me) thither conveyed and there erected. "Where, further 
also, by great cast and cost, the sweetness of savour on all sides, 
made so respirant from the redolent plants and fragrant herbs and 
flowers, in form, colour, and quantity so deliciously variant ; and 
fruit-trees bedecked with apples, pears, and ripe cherries. 

" And unto these, in the midst, against the terrace : a square 
cage, sumptuous and beautiful, joined hard to the north wall, 
(that on that side guards the garden, as the garden the Castle) of 
a rare form and excellency was raised : in height twenty feet, 
thirty long, and fourteen broad. From the ground strong and 
close, reared breast-high, whereat a framing of a fair moulding 
was couched all about : from that upward, four great windows, 
in front, and two at each end, every one five feet wide, as many 
more even above them, divided on all parts by a transom and 
architrave, 2 so likewise ranging about the cage. Each window 
arched at the top, and parted from the other at even distances by 
flat fair bolteld columns 3 all in form and beauty alike, these sup- 
ported a comely cornice couched all along upon the bold square. 
Which with a wire net, finely knit, of meshes six square, an inch 

1 " These effigies were allusive to the ancient badge of the Earls of War- 
wick, which was, a hear erect Argent, muzzled G-ules, supporting a ragged 
staff of tTie first. In 1561, Ambrose Dudley, Robert's elder brother, was made 
Earl of Warwick, and consequently the badge was thus introduced. 

3 " The word architrave signifies the lowest member of the cornice, and an 
architrave window is one with an ogee, or wreathed moulding. A transom is 
a beam or lintel crossing over a window. 

3 " Boltel is a term used in building, to signify any prominence or jutting- 
out beyond the flat face of the wall. 



158 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

wide (as it were for a flat roof) and likewise the space of every 
window with great cunning and comeliness, even and tight was all 
over-strained. Under the cornice again, every part beautified 
with great diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and saphires : pointed, 
tabled, rock and round, and garnish'd with gold j 1 by skilful head 
and hand, and by toil and pencil so lively expressed, as it might 
be great marvel and pleasure to consider how near excellency of 
Aft could approach unto perfection of Nature. 

" Bear with me, good countryman, though things be not showed 
here as well as I would, or as well as they should. For indeed I 
can better imagine and conceive that which I see, than well utter, 
or duly declare it. Holes were there also and caverns in orderly 
distances and fashion, voided into the wall, as well for heat, for 
coolness, for roost at nights and refuge in weather, as also for 
breeding when time is. More ; fair, even, and fresh holly trees 
for perching and pruning, set within, toward each end one. 

" Here, too, their diversity of meats, their fine several vessels 
for their water and sundry grains ; and a man skilful and diligent 
to look to them and tend them. 

"But, shall I tell you, of the silver sounded lute, without the 
sweet touch of hand ; the glorious golden cup, without the fresh 
fragrant wine : or the rich ring with gem, without the fair fea- 
tured finger : is nothing, indeed, in his proper grace and use : 
even so his Honor accounted of this mansion till he had placed 
there tenants according. Had it, therefore, replenished with 
lively Birds, English, French, Spanish, Canarian, and I am de- 
ceived if I saw not some African. Whereby, whether it became 
more delightsome in change of tunes, and harmony to the ear ; 
or else in difference of colours, kinds, and properties to the eye, 
I'll tell you, if I can, when I have better bethought me. 

" One day, Master Martin, as the garden door was open, and 
her Highness hunting, by licence of my good friend Adrian, I 

1 " It is evident that these precious stones were imitated in painting ; and 
that they were meant to represent the gems in their various appearances. 
Pointed, or rose, as it is termed by the lapidaries, is when a stone is cut with 
many angles rising from an octagon, and terminating in a point. Tabled is 
when a diamond is formed with one flat upper surface ; and the word table 
also signifies the principal face. Rough is understood to mean the gem in 
its primary state, when its radiance is seen to sparkle through the dross of the 
mine. Round denotes the jewel when it is cut and polished with a convex 
surface. The expression ' Garnished with their gold,' which follows in the 
text, signified ornamented with their settings. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 159 

came in at a beckon, but would scant out with a thrust : for sure I 
was loath so soon to depart. Well may this, Master Martin, be 
somewhat to magnitude of mind, but more thereof as ye shall 
know, more cause ye shall have so to think : hear out what I tell 
you, and tell me when we meet. 

" In the centre, as it were, of this goodly garden, was there 
placed a very fair fountain, cast into an eight-square, reared four 
feet high ; from the midst whereof, a column upright, in shape of 
two AtJdants, joined together a back half: the one looking east, 
the other west, with their hands upholding a fair-formed bowl of 
three feet over ; from whence sundry fine pipes did lively distil 
continual streams into the reservoir of the fountain, maintained 
still two feet deep by the same fresh falling water : wherein plea- 
santly playing to and fro, and round about, carp, tench, bream, 
and for variety, pearch and eel, fish fair-liking all, and large : In 
the top, the ragged staff ; which, with the bowl, the pillar, and 
eight sides beneath, were all hewn out of rich and hard white 
marble. On one side, Nejptwne with his tridental fuskin 1 triumph- 
ing in his throne, trailed into the deep by his marine horses. On 
another, Thetis in her chariot drawn by her dolphins. Then 
Triton by his fishes. Here Proteus herding his sea-bulls. There 
Boris and her daughters solacing on sea and sands. The waves 
surging with froth and foam, intermingled in place, with whales, 
whirlpools, sturgeons, tunneys, conches, and whealks, all engraven 
by exquisite device and skill, so as I may think this not much 
inferior unto 'Phoebus' gates, which Ovid says, and peradventure 
a pattern to this, that Vulcan himself did cut : whereof such was 
the excellency of art, that the work in value surmounted the 
stuff, and yet were the gates all of clean massy silver. 

" Here were things, ye see, might inflame any mind to long 
after looking : but whoso was found so hot in desire, with the 
wrest of a cock was sure of a cooler : water spirting upward with 
such vehemency, as they should, by and by, be moistened from 
top to toe ; the he's to some laughing, but the she's to more 
sport : this sometime was occupied to very good pastime. 

"A garden then so appointed, as wherein aloft upon sweet 
shadowed walk of terrace, in heat of summer, to feel the plea- 
sant whisking wind above, or delectable coolness of the fountain- 
spring beneath ; to taste of delicious strawberries, cherries, and 

1 " A term derived from the Latin fuscina, an eel-spear, trident, or three- 
forked mace. — Vide Ainsworth. 



160 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

other fruits, even from their stalks ; to smell such fragrancy of 
sweet odours, breathing from the plants, herbs, and flowers ; to 
hear such natural melodious music and tunes of birds ; to have 
in eye for mirth sometime these underspringing streams ; then, 
the woods, the waters (for both pool and chase were hard at hand 
in sight), the deer, the people (that out of the east arbour in the 
base Court, also at hand in view), the fruit-trees, the plants, the 
herbs, the flowers, the change in colours, the birds flittering, the 
fountain streaming, the fish swimming, all in such delectable va- 
riety, order, and dignity ; whereby, at one moment, in one place, 
at hand, without travel, to have so full fruition of so many Grod's 
blessings, by entire delight unto all senses (if all can take) at 
once : for etymon of the word worthy to be called Paradise : l and 
though not so goodly as Paradise, for want of the fair rivers, yet 
better a great deal by the lack of so unhappy a tree. Argument 
most certain of a right noble mind, that in this sort could have 
thus all contrived. 

" But Master Martin, yet one windlass must I fetch, to make 
you one more fair course, an I can : and cause I speak of One, 
let me tell you a little of the dignity of One-hood ; wherein 
always all high Deity, all Sovereignty, Pre-eminence, Principality, 
and Concord, without possibility of disagreement, is contained : 
As, One God, One Saviour, One Paith, One Prince, One Sun, 
One Phoenix ; and as One of great wisdom saith, One heart, One 
way. "Where One-hood reigns, there Quiet bears rule, and 
Discord flies apace. Three again may signify company, a meet- 
ing, a multitude, plurality ; so as all tales and numberings from 
two unto three, and so upward, may well be counted numbers, 
till they mount unto infinity, or else to confusion, which thing 
the sum of two can never admit ; nor itself can well be counted 
a number, but rather a friendly conjunction of two Ones ; that, 
keeping in a sincerity of accord, may purport unto us charity to 
each other ; mutual love, agreement and integrity of friendship 
without dissimulation. As is in these : The two Testaments ; 
the Two Tables of the Law ; the Two great Lights, Duo lumi- 
naria magna, the Sun and Moon. And, but mark a little, I pray, 
and see how of all things in the world, our tongues in talk do 

1 " Lanehani, in making use of this expression, gave to Lord Leicester's 
gardens a name which it was customary to apply to pleasure-grounds and 
houses in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as in the instances of 
Wressell and Lekinfield, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 161 

always so readily trip upon two's, pairs, and couples ; sometimes 
as of things in equality, sometime of difference, sometime of con- 
traries, or for comparison, but chiefly, for the most part, of things 
that between themselves do well agree, and are fast linked in 
amity : As, first, for pastimes, Hounds and Hawks ; Deer red 
and fallow ; Hare and Fox ; Partridge and Pheasant ; Pish and 
Fowl ; Carp and Tench. Por Wars, Spear and Shield ; Horse 
and Harness ; Sword and Buckler. Por sustenance, Wheat and 
Barley ; Pease and Beans ; Meat and Drink ; Bread and Meat ; 
Beer and Ale ; Apples and Pears. 

" But lest by such dualities I draw you too far ; let us here 
stay, and come nearer home. See what a sort of friendly binites 1 
we ourselves do consist and stand upon : Pirst, our Two feet, 
Two legs, Two knees, so upward; and above, Two shoulders, 
Two arms, and Two hands. But chiefly our principal Two ; that 
is, body and soul : Then in the head, where all our senses meet, 
and almost all in Two's ; Two Nostrils, Two ears, and Two eyes : 
So are we of friendly Two's from top to toe. Well, to this 
number of binites, take ye one more for an upshot, and here -an 
end. 

" Two dials nigh unto the battlements, are set aloft upon two 
of the sides of Caesar's Tower ; one east, the other south ; for so 
stand they best to show the hours to the town and country : both 
fair, large, and rich, blue bice for ground, and gold for letters, 2 
whereby they glitter conspicuous a great way off. The clock- 
bell, that is good and shrill, was commanded to silence at first, 
and indeed, sung not a note all the while her Highness was there ; 
the clock stood also still withal. But mark now, whether were 
it by chance, by constellation of stars, or by fatal appointment 
(if fates and stars do deal with dials) thus was it indeed. The 
hands of both the tables stood firm and fast, always pointing at 
two o'clock. Which thing beholding by hap at first, but after 
seriously marking in deed, enprinted into me a deep sign and 

1 " A word probably coined by Lanehain to express duality, or the quality 
of being two. Its principal derivation is evidently from the Latin Linus, two. 

2 " Bice is a pale blue colour prepared from the Armenian stone, formerly 
brought from Armenia, but now from the silver mines of Germany ; in con- 
sequence of which smalt is sometimes finely levigated, and called bice. The 
dials alluded to in the text were enamelled, and with the sun's reflection on 
the gold figures, heightened by the azure ground, must have had a most 
splendid appearance. 

11 



162 KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 

argument certain : that this thing, among the rest, was for full 
significance of his Lordship's honourable, frank, friendly, and 
noble heart towards all estates: which, whether they come to 
stay and take cheer, or strait to return ; to see, or to be seen ; 
come they for duty to her Majesty, or love to his Lordship, or 
for both : come they early or late : for his Lordship's part, they 
come always all at two o'clock, e'en jump at two o'clock : that 
is to say, in good heart, good acceptance, in amity, and friendly 
welcome : who saw else that I saw, in right must say as I say. 
Eor so many things beside, Master Humphrey, were herein so 
consonant unto my construction, that this pointing of the clock 
(to myself) I took in amity, as an oracle certain. And here is 
my windlass like your course, as please you. 

"But now, Sir, to come to an end. Eor receiving of her 
Highness, and entertainment of all the other estates. Since of 
delicates, that any way might serve or delight ; as of wine, spice, 
dainty viands, plate, music, ornaments of house, rich arras and 
silk (to say nothing of the meaner things), the mass by provision 
was heaped so huge, which the bounty in spending did after 
bewray. The conceit so deep in casting the plat at first : such a 
wisdom and cunning in acquiring things so rich, so rare, and in 
such abundance : by so immense and profuse a charge of expense, 
which, by so honourable service, and exquisite order, courtesy of 
officers, and humanity of all, were after so bountifully bestowed 
and spent : what may this express, what may this set out unto 
us, but only a magnific mind, a singular wisdom, a princely purse, 
and an heroical heart ? If it were my theme, Master Martin, to 
speak of his Lordship's great honour and magnificence, though it 
be not in me to say sufficiently, as bad a pen-clerk as I am, yet 
could I say a great deal more. 

"But being here now in magnificence, and matters of greatness, 
it falls well to mind the greatness of his Honor's tent, that for 
her Majesty's dining was pight at Long Ichington, the day her 
Highness came to Kenilworth Castle. A tabernacle indeed for 
number and shift of large and goodly rooms, for fair and easy 
offices both inward and outward, all so likesome in order and eye- 
sight : that justly for dignity may be comparable with a beautiful 
palace ; and for greatness and quantity, with a proper town, or 
rather a citadel. But to be short, lest I keep you too long from 
the Royal Exchange now, and to cause you to conceive much 



K EN TL WORTH CASTLE. 163 

matter in fewest words. The iron bedstead of Og, 1 the king of 
Basan (.you know) was four yards and a half long, and two yards 
wide, whereby ye consider a giant of a great proportion was he : 
This tent had seven cart-load of pins pertaining to it : Now for 
the greatness, guess as you can. 

" And great as it was (to marshal our matters of greatness 
together,) not forgetting a wether at Grafton, brought to the 
Court, that for body and wool was exceeding great ; the measure 
I took not : let me show you with what great marvel a great child 
of Leicestershire, at this Long Ichington, by the parents was 
presented : great, I say, of limbs and proportion, of four feet and 
four inches high, and else lanuginous 2 as a lad of eighteen years ; 
being indeed avowed to be but six years old, nothing more be- 
wraying his age than his wit, that was, as for those years, simple 
and childish. 

" As for unto his Lordship, having with such greatness of 
honourable modesty and benignity so passed forth, as laudem sine 
invidia et aniicos parit. By greatness of well-doing, won with 
all sorts to be in such reverence as de quo mentiri fama veretur. 
In sincerity of friendship so great, as no man more devoutly 
worships Mud amicitice sanctum et venerabile nomen. So great in 
liberality, as hath no way to heap up the mass of his treasure, 
but only by liberal giving and bounteous bestowing his treasure ; 
following (as it seems) that saw of Martial, that saith, 

" Extra fortunam est, quicquid donatur ainicis : 
Quas dederis, solas semper habebis opes. 

" Out of all hazard dost thou set that to thy friends thou givest : 
A surer treasure canst thou not have ever while thou livest. 

What may these greatnesses bode, but only as great honour, fame, 
and renown for these parts here away, as ever was unto these two 
noble greats, the Macedonian Alexander in Emathia or Greece, 
or to Soman diaries in Germany or Italy ? Which, were it in 
me any way to set out, no man of all men by God, Master Martin, 
had ever more cause, and that hereby consider you. 

" It pleased his Honor to bear me good will at first, and so to 
continue. To have given me apparel even from his back, to get 
me allowance in the stable, to advance me unto this worshipful 

1 " Tide Deuteronomy, chap, iii, verse 11. 

2 "An adjective derived from the Latin lanuginosus, downy, covered with 
soft hair. 



164 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

office so near the most honourable Council, to help me in my 
licence of beans (though indeed I do not so much use it, for, I 
thank God, I need not) to permit my good father to serve the 
stable. Whereby I go now in my silks, that else might ruffle in 
my cut canvas : I ride now on horseback, that else many times 
might manege it on foot : am known to their Honors, and taken 
forth with the best, that else might be bidden to stand back my- 
self. My good father a good relief, that he fares much the better 
by, and none of these for my desert, either at first or since, Grod 
knows. What say you, my good friend Humphrey, should I not 
for ever honour and extol him all the ways I can ? Yes, by your 
leave, while Grod lends me power to utter my mind. And, 
having as good cause of his Honor, as Virgil had of Augustus 
Ccesar, will I poet it a little with Virgil, and say, 

" Nanique erit Ille mihi semper Deus, illius aram 
Ssepe teiier nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus. 

" For he shall be a God to me, till death my life consumes, 
His altars will I sacrifice with incense and perfumes. 

" A singular patron of humanity may he be well unto us 
toward all degrees : of honour toward high estates, and chiefly 
whereby we may learn in what dignity, worship, and reverence 
her Highness is to be esteemed, honoured, and received, that was 
never indeed more condignly done than here ; so as neither by 
the builders at first, nor by the edict of pacification after, was 
ever Kenilworth more ennobled, than by this his Lordship's re- 
ceiving her Highness here now. 

" But, Jesu, Jesu, whither am I drawn now ? But talk I of 
my Lord once, even thus it fares with me : I forget all my friends, 
and myself too. And yet you, being a rnercer, a merchant, as I 
am, my countryman born, and my good friend withal, whereby I 
know you are compassioned with me; methought it my part 
somewhat to impart unto you how it is here with me, and how I 
lead my life, which indeed is this : 

" A mornings I rise ordinarily at seven o'clock : then readj r , 
I go into the chapel ; soon after eight, I get me commonly into 
my Lord's chamber, or into my Lord's presidents. There at the 
cupboard, after I have eaten the manchet served over night for 
livery, (for I dare be as bold, I promise you, as any of my friends 
the servants there ; and indeed I could have fresh, if I would 
tarry ; but I am of wont jolly and dry a mornings) : I drink me 






KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 165 

up a good bowl of ale : when in a sweet pot it is defecated 1 by 
all night's standing, the drink is the better, take that of me : and 
a morsel in a morning, with a sound draught, is very wholesome 
and good for the eyesight : Then I am as fresh all the forenoon 
after, as I had eaten a whole piece of beef. Now, Sir, if the 
Council sit, I am at hand ; wait at an inch, I warrant you : If 
any make babbling, " Peace," say I, " wot ye where ye are ?" If 
I take a listener, or a pryer in at the chinks or at the lock-hole, 
I am by and by in the bones of him : but now they keep good 
order, they know me well enough : If he be a friend, or such a 
one as I like, I make him sit down by me on a form or a chest ; 
let the rest walk, in God's name. 

" And here doth my languages now and then stand me in good 
stead, my French, my Spanish, my Dutch, and my Latin : some- 
time among Ambassadors' men, if their masters be within the 
Council : sometime with the Ambassador himself, if he bid call 
his lacquey, or ask me what's o'clock ; and I warrant you I 
answer him roundly, that they marvel to see such a fellow there : 
then laugh I, and say nothing. Dinner and supper I have twenty 
places to go to, and heartily prayed to : Sometimes I get to 
Master Pinner ; by my faith a worshipful Gentleman, and as 
careful for his charge as any her Highness hath. There find I 
always good store of very good viands ; we eat, and be merry, 
thank God and the Queen. Himself in feeding very temperate 
and moderate as you shall see any ; and yet, by your leave, of a 
dish, as a cold pigeon or so, that hath come to him at meat more 
than he looked for, I have seen him even so by and by surfeit, as 
he hath plucked off his napkin, wiped his knife, and eat not a 
morsel more ; like enough to stick in his stomach two days after : 
(some hard message from the higher officers ; perceive ye me ?) 
Upon search, his faithful dealing and diligence had found him 
faultless. 

" In afternoons and at nights, sometime am I with the right 
worshipful Sir George Howard, as good a Gentleman as any that 
lives. And sometime, at my good Lady Sidney's chamber, 
a Noble-woman that I am as much bound unto, as any poor 
man may be unto so gracious a Lady; and sometime in some 
other place. But always among the Gentlewomen by my good 
will ; (0, you know that comes always of a gentle spirit) : And 

1 " A participle formed of the Latin verb defceco, to purify liquors from 
their lees and foulness. 



166 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

when I see company according, then can I be as lively too : Some- 
times I foot it with dancing : now with my gittern, or else with 
my cittern, then at the virginals ■} Yon know nothing comes amiss 
to me: Then carol I np a song withal; that by and by they 
come flocking abont me like bees to honey ; And ever they cry, 
"Another, good LaneJiam, another!" Shall I tell yon? when I 

see Mistress (Ah ! see a mad knave ; I had almost told 

all !) that she gives once but an eye, or an ear ; why then, man, 
am I blest ; my grace, my courage, my cunning is doubled : She 
says, sometime, " She likes it ;" and then I like it mnch the 
better : it doth me good to hear how well I can do. And to say 
truth ; what with mine eye, as I can amorously gloit it, with my 
Spanish sospires, 2 my French heighes, mine Italian dulcets, my 
Butch hoves, my double releas, my high reaches, my fine feigning, 
my deep diapason, my wanton warbles, my running, my timing, 
my tuning, and my twinkling, I can gracify the matters as well 
as the proudest of them, and was yet never stained, I thank Grod : 
By my troth, countryman, it is sometimes high midnight, ere I 
can get from them. And thus have I told you most of my trade, 
all the live long day: what will you more, God save the Queen 
and my Lord. I am well, I thank you. 

" Herewith meaned I fully to bid ye farewell, had not this 
doubt come to my mind, that here remains a doubt in you, which 
I ought (methought) in anywise to clear. Which is, ye marvel 
perchance to see me so bookish. Let me tell you in few words : 
I went to school, forsooth, both at Paul's and also at St. An- 
thony's ; In the fifth form, passed iEsop's Fables, I wis, read 
Terence vos istoec intro auferte, and began with my Virgil Tityre 
fa patulce. I conned my rules, could construe and parse with the 
best of them : since that, as partly you know, have I traded the 

! The first two of these instruments, if not the same, were at least closely 
resembling each other. The words are a corruption from the Spanish citara, 
a guitar; or Citron, a guitar-maker. Citterns were a species of that ex- 
tensive class of musical instruments of the guitar form, known in the best era 
of music in England, which went under the names of the Lute Ompharion, 
Bambora, &c. The virginals was a keyed instrument of one string to each 
note like a spinet, but in shape resembling a small piano-forte. 

2 Laneham gives in this passage a specimen of making love in the various 
languages in which he was skilled. Suspiro, in the Spanish tongue, signifies 
a very deep sigh : He, in the French, expresses the emotions of the soul in 
love; Dolce, in Italian, means dear or beloved; and in Dutch, Hoof shied is 
the word for courtship. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 167 

feat of merchandise in sundry countries, and so got rue languages ; 
which do so little hinder my Latin, as I, thank God, have much 
encreased it. I have leisure sometimes, when I tend not upon 
the Council ; whereby, now look I on one book, now on another. 
Stories I delight in : the more ancient and rare, the more irksome 
to me. If I told you, I liked William of Malinesbury so well, 
because of his diligence and antiquity, perchance you would 
construe it because I love malmsey so well : But i' faith it is not 
so : for sipt I no more sack and sugar, (and yet never but with 
company,) than I do malmsey, I should not blush so much adays 
as I do : you know my mind. 

" "Well now, thus fare ye heartily well i' faith : If with wishing 
it could have been, ye had had a buck or two this summer : but 
we shall come nearer shortly, and then shall we merrily meet, an 
grace o' God. In the mean time commend me, I beseech you, 
unto my good friends, almost most of them your neighbours : 
Master Alderman Pullison} a special friend of mine : And in any 
wise to my good old friend Master Smith, Customer, by that same 

token, " Set my horse up to the rack, and then let's have a 

cup of Sack." He knows the token well enough, and will laugh, 

I hold you a groat. To Master Thorogood : and to my merry 
companion (a Mercer, you know, as we be) Master Demnan, Mio 

fratello in Christo : He is wont to summon me by the name of 

II Bo. La. of the County of Nosingham Gentleman:" A good 
companion, i' faith. Well, once again, fare ye heartily well. 
From the Court. At the City of Worcester, the twentieth of 
August, 1575. 

" Your Countryman, companion, and friend assuredly : Mercer, 
Merchant-adventurer, and Clerk of the Council chamber- door, 
and also Keeper of the same : 

JEl Brencipe Negro, Par me, R. L. Gent. Mercer 

DE MAJESTATE EEGIA 

Benigno. 
" Cedant arnia togce, concedat laurea lingua?, 
Jactanter Cicero, at justius illud habe : 
Cedant arma togse, vigil et toga cedit honori, 
Omnia concedant imperioque suo. 

Deo Opt. Max. Gratia. 
1 "Afterwards Sir Thomas Pullison, and Lord Mayor in 1581. 



End op Laneham's Lettee. 



GASCOYNE'S 
PRINCELY PLEASURES OF KENIL WORTH 



INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. 1 



"The festivities which took place at Kenilworth Castle being 
familiar to nearly all the reading public, as well by the reprint of 
Robert Lanehain's letter, as by the admirable and interesting 
Romance of Kenilworth, it becomes a desirable appendage to 
both these works to have some specimens of the literary composi- 
tions which were prepared for the dramatic entertainments then 
displayed before Queen Elizabeth. Although Laneham's letter 
contains a perfect description of the arrangement and nature of 
the various pageants, yet he often professes himself unable to 
give more than a general abstract of the many laudatory orations, 
both in verse and prose, which were delivered in the course of the 
Queen's visit. Eor instance, such expressions as these convey 
only general information : — ' A proper poesy in English rhyme and 
metre,' — ' A rough speech full of passions,' — ' A well-penned 
metre, and matter after this sort ;' and he also uses these apolo- 
getical terms, which may be considered as an excuse for all his 
omissions. ' Had her Highness happened this day to have come 
abroad, there was made ready a device of goddesses and nymphs, 
which, as well for the ingenious argument, as for the well-handling 
of it in rhyme and enditing, would undoubtedly have gained great 
liking, and moved no less delight. Of the particularities thereof, 
however, I cease to entreat, lest, like the bungling carpenter, by 
mis-sorting the pieces, I mar a good frame in the bad setting up ; 

1 Extracted from ' Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures/ 12mo. Lond., 1812. 



170 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

or by my bad tempering before-hand, blemish the beauty when it 
should be reared up indeed. 

" There are several sources whence these memoirs have been 
derived ; firstly, the author's own works ; secondly, the admirable 
life written by Mr. Chalmers, for his edition of the English Poets ; 
and, lastly, from a curious biographical poem by Gascoigne's 
friend, George Whetstone. 

" George Gascoigne, the son and heir of Sir John Gascoigne, 
was descended from an ancient and respectable family of Essex, 
and was first educated "under a minister named Nevinson, who, 
as Mr. Chalmers observes, was probably 'Stephen Nevinson, LL.D., 
Prebendary and Commissary of the City and Diocese of Canter- 
bury.' Gascoigne was next removed to the University ; Wood 
supposes him to have studied both at Oxford and Cambridge, but 
from several passages in his works, it is most probable that he 
belonged only to the latter. From College, like many young 
gentlemen of his time, Gascoigne went to Gray's Inn, of which 
he became a member, and it is probable, that about this period, 
he entered upon that dissolute course of life, his repentance of 
which is so strongly marked in the greater part of his writings. 
With a mind certainly highly-gifted with poetic feeling, and a dis- 
position amorous to a very great degree, it is not surprising, that 
the youthful poems of Gascoigne are all on the subject of love ; 
Gabriel Harvey, in his Gratulationes Valdinenses, celebrates him, 
with Chaucer, and the Earl of Surrey, as a poetic champion of 
the female sex. It was most probably this dissipated course of 
life that caused Sir John Gascoigne to disinherit his son ; although, 
from several passages in his poems, it would seem that his offences 
had been exaggerated by slanderous reports. Left entirely to 
himself, and cast into the world alone, he for some time endeavoured 
to brave it with independence ; but, finding that the revellers 
with whom he had associated, and the mistresses on whom he had 
lavished his property, were alike insensible to his situation or 
unable to amend it, on March 19th, 1572, he sailed for Holland, 
and entered into the army of William, Prince of Orange. After 
a dangerous voyage, in which twenty of the crew were drowned 
through the pilot's intoxication, Gascoigne landed in Holland, 
and received a Captain's commission under the Prince. His 
poems entitled ' Gascoigne's Voyage into Holland,' ' The Fruites 
of Warre,' and ' The Fruite of Fetters, with the Complaint of 
the Greene Knight,' under which name it appears that Gascoigne 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 171 

was known in the army, contain much information respecting his 
life at tins period. From these may be learned, that he was in a 
fair path to promotion, when an unfortunate dispute with his 
Colonel caused him to remove to Delf, in order to resign his com- 
mission to the Prince, who, however, exerted himself to bring 
about a reconciliation. During these events, while Gascoigne re- 
mained at Delf, a lady at the Hague, which was then occupied by 
the enemy's troops, sent a letter to him concerning his portrait 
which he had given her. This billet got into the possession of 
his ColoDel and his enemies, who made such use of it as to excite 
considerable suspicion in the minds of many, especially the Dutch 
burghers, that Gascoigne was unfaithful to their cause. In con- 
sequence of this he underwent considerable privations, which 
lasted, as he remarks, ' a winter's tyde,' until the Prince coming 
into Zealand, Grascoigne laid the whole affair before him, and 
immediately received passports for visiting the lady, and an ample 
testimonial of his worth. Soon after, William of Nassau laid 
siege to Middleburg, and Grascoigne evinced such bravery in the 
capture of it, that the Prince, as he relates, presented him with, 

' Three hundred guilders good above my pay, 
And had me bide till his abilitie 
Might better guerdon my fidelitie.' 

The credit which Grascoigne had thus attained, was certainly a 
principal cause of the misfortunes which succeeded it ; since his 
enemies had then to add envy to their former hatred and suspi- 
cion. A reinforcement was at that period sent from England to 
the Spaniards, and Gascoigne was ordered, under the command of 
Captain Sheffield, to an unfinished fort at Yalkenburg, which was 
immediately attacked. The Dutch forces there amounted only to 
five hundred men, while those of the Spanish were about three 
thousand ; added to which, the fortification works were incom- 
plete, and the garrison not supplied either with provision or am- 
munition. It was vain to contend when this miserable defence 
was assaulted, though Gascoigne and his companions held out 
until they were forced to retreat, which they at length did to 
Leyden, the gates of which were shut against them. The rest is 
easily imagined — they surrendered to the Spaniards, upon honour- 
able terms, and after about four months' captivity, the officers 
were sent home to their own countries. After his return to Eng- 
land, Gascoigue resided at his chambers in Gray's Inn, and occa- 



172 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

sionally at Walthamstow, as he again began the study of the law, 
and also published such of his more serious poems as he expected 
would efface the memory of his amatory verses. In the summer 
of 1575, he attended Lord Leicester at Kenil worth, to assist 
Hunnis, Goldingham, Mulcaster, &c, in the production of masks 
and pageants for Queen Elizabeth's entertainment ; and in the 
course of the following work, the reader will observe what share 
he took in their composition. "When the Kenilworth festival was 
over, G-ascoigne is supposed to have been employed at Waltham- 
stow, in preparing his several works for the press ; of which an 
accurate bibliographical account will be found at the end of this 
memoir. According to Whetstone, he wrote in this retirement, 
the satire of ' The Steele Glasse,' ' The Glass of Government,' 
' The Delicate Diet,' ' a Book of Hunting,' and ' The Doom's 
Day Drum ;' the latter of which was not published until after his 
death. Though Gascoigne was certainly admired and caressed in 
his own time, and enjoyed the friendship and patronage of many 
great and eminent men, ' yet,' says Mr. Chalmers, ' during this 
period he complains bitterly of what poets in all ages have felt, 
the envy of rivals and the malevolence of critics, and seems to 
intimate that, although he apparently bore this treatment with 
patience, yet it insensibly wore him out, and brought on a bodily 
distemper which his physicians could not cure. In all his publi- 
cations, he takes every opportunity to introduce and bewail the 
errors of his youth, and to atone for any injury, real or supposed, 
which might have accrued to the public from a perusal of his 
early poems, in which, however, the proportion of indelicate 
thoughts is surely not very great.' In little more than two years 
after the Queen's visit to Kenilworth, on October the 7th, 1577, 
Gascoigne died, at Stamford, in Lincolnshire, according to Whet- 
stone, in the presence of his wife and son, and with such calm- 
ness, 

' as no man there perceived 
By struggling sign or striving from his breath, 
That he abode the pains and pangs of death.' 

It is supposed by his biographers, that his age did not exceed forty 
years. 

" The above hasty sketch of Gascoigne's life cannot be better 
concluded, than by the following finely written poetic character, 
which Mr. Chalmers has given of him and of his works. ' If we 



KENILV/ORTH CASTLE, 173 

consider the general merit of the poets in the early part of the 
Elizabethan period, it will probably appear that the extreme 
rarity of Gascoigne's works has been the chief cause of his being 
so much neglected by modern readers. In smoothness and har- 
mony of versification, he yields to no poet of his own time, when 
these qualities were very common ; but his higher merit is, that 
in every thing he discovers the powers and invention of a poet ; 
a warmth of sentiment, tender and natural ; and a fertility of 
fancy, although not always free from the conceits of the Italian 
school. As a satirist, if nothing remained but his Steele Glass, 
he may be reckoned one of the first. There is a vein of sly 
sarcasm in this piece, which appears to me to be original ; and his 
intimate knowledge of mankind, acquired indeed at the expense 
probably of health, and certainly of comfort and independence, 
enabled him to give a more curious picture of the dress, manners, 
amusements, and follies of the times, than we meet with in almost 
any other author. To point out the individual beauties of his 
miscellaneous pieces, after the specimens exhibited by Mrs. Cooper, 
by Bp. Percy, "Warton, Headley, and Ellis, would be unnecessary ; 
but there are three respects in which his claims to originality re- 
quire to be noticed, as seras in the history of poetry. His Steele 
Glass is among the first specimens of blank verse in our language ; 
his Jocasta is the second theatrical piece written in that measure ; 
and his Supposes is the first comedy written in prose. 1 

" ' The Princely Pleasures at the Courte at Kenilwoorth : That is 
to save, the copies of all such verses, Proeses, or Poeticall inuen- 
tions, and other deuices of pleasure, as were there deuised, and 
presented by Sundry Gentlemen, before the Queues Maiesty : in 
the yeare 1 575. 

" Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, 1576. Svo. 

" Of this edition, which is the first, only one copy is known. 
At the sale of Dr. Wright's library, in April, 1787, Dr. Farmer 
obtained it for the very trifling sum of ten shillings! On the 
demise of Dr. Earmer, in 1798, his library was also dispersed by 
the hammer, and this unique copy was purchased by Mr. Jeffery 
of Pall Mall, for the late George Ellis, Esq., for two pounds six 
shillings, which is somewhat surprising, as the rarity of the 
volume had then become more generally known ; it subsequently 

1 A list of Gascoigne's Works, in verse and prose, will be found in the 
" Princely Pleasures," 12mo. Lond. 1821, from which the present work is 
extracted. 



174 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

passed through the hands of Mr. Park to Messrs. Longman 
and Co., from whom it was transferred to its present possessor, 
"William Staunton, Esq., of Longbridge. The existence of this 
edition was unknown to Mr. Nichols, while editing the Progresses 
of Queen Elizabeth ; and the ' Princelye Pleasures,' of Gascoigne, 
are there given from a transcript from the subsequent edition of 
1587 ; nor does it appear, that although Hitson had noticed this 
edition in his Bibliograpliia Poetica, that Mr. A. Chalmers knew 
anything more respecting it than Mr. Nichols, as in the prelimi- 
nary notices prefixed to his republication of Gascoigne's poems, 
speaking of this work' he observes, ' This piece was first printed 
in the posthumous edition of his works.' " 1 



1 < Works of the English Poets,' 1810, vol. ii, p. 450. 



THE 



PRINCELY PLEASURES 



KENILWORTH CASTLE 



A brief rehearsal, or rather a 

true copy of as much as was presented 

before her Majesty at Kenilworth, during 

her last abode there, as 

followeth. 1 

1 Reprinted from the edition of 1821. 12mo, London. 



THE PRINTER TO THE READER. 

[From the first edition 'Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, 1576. ! ] 



Being advertised (gentle reader) that in this last Progress, her Majesty 
was (by the Right Noble Earl of Leicester) honourably and triumphantly 
received and entertained at his Castle of Kenilworth : and that sundry 
Pleasant and Poetical Inventions were there expressed, as well in verse as in 
prose. All which have been sundry times demanded for, as well at my hands, 
as also of other printers, for that indeed all studious and well-disposed young 
gentlemen and others, were desirous to be partakers of those pleasures by a 
profitable publication : I thought meet to try by all means possible if I might 
recover the true copies of the same, to gratify all such as had required them 
at my hands, or might hereafter be stirred with the like desire. And in fine, 
I have with much travail and pain obtained the very true and perfect copies 
of all that were there presented and executed ; over and besides, one moral 
and gallant Device, which never came to execution, although it were often in 
readiness. And these (being thus collected,) I have (for thy commodity, 
gentle reader) now published : the rather because of a report thereof lately 
imprinted by the name of the Pastime of the Progress : which (indeed) doth 
nothing touch the particularity of every commendable action, but generally 
rehearseth her Majesty's cheerful entertainment in all places where she passed : 
together with the exceeding joy that her subjects had to see her: which 
report made very many the more desirous to have this perfect copy : for that 
it plainly doth set down every thing as it was indeed presented, at large : 
And further doth declare, who was Author and Deviser of every Poem and 
Invention. So that I doubt not but it shall please and satisfy thee both with 
reason and contentation : In full hope whereof, I leave thee to the reading of 
the same, and promise to be still occupied in publishing such works as may 
be both for thy pleasure and commodity. 

This 26th of March, 1576. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



" Her Majesty came thither (as I remember) on Saturday, being 
the ninth of July last past. On which day there met her on the 
way, somewhat near the Castle, Sibylla, who prophesied unto her 
Highness the prosperous reign that she should continue, according 
to the happy beginning of the same. The order thereof was this : 
Sibylla being placed in an arbour in the park near the highway, 
where the Queen's Majesty came, did step out and pronounced 
as followeth : 

" All hail, all hail, thrice happy Prince, 

I am Sibylla, she 
Of future chance, and after-haps, 

fore-shewing what shall be. 
As now the dew of heavenly gifts 

full thick on you doth fall, 
E'en so shall virtue more and more 

augment your years withal. 
The rage of war hound fast in chains 

shall never stir nor move : 
But peace shall govern all your days, 

encreasing subjects love. 
You shall be called the Prince of Peace, 

and peace shall be your shield, 
So that your eyes shall never see 

the broils of bloody field. 
If perfect peace then glad your mind, 

he joys above the rest, 
Which doth receive into his house 

so good and sweet a guest. 
And one thing more I shall foretell, 

as by my skill I know : 
Your coming is rejoiced at 

ten thousand times and rao. 

12 



178 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

And whiles your Highness here abides, 

nothing shall rest unsought, 
That may bring pleasure to your mind, 

or quiet to your thought. 
And so pass forth in peace (0 Prince 

of high and worthy praise) : 
The God that governs all in all, 

encrease your happy days. 

This device was invented, and the verses also written, by M. 
Hnnnis, Master of her Majesty's Chapel. 

" Her Majesty passing on to the first gate, there stood on the 
leads and battlements thereof six Trumpeters hugely advanced, 1 
much exceeding the common stature of men in this age, who had 
likewise huge and monstrous trumpets counterfeited, wherein 
they seemed to sound : and behind them were placed certain 
trumpeters, who sounded indeed at her Majesty's entry. And 
by this dumb shew it was meant, that in the days arid reign of 
King Arthur, men were of that stature. So that the Castle of 
Kenilworth should seem still to be kept by Arthur's heirs and 
their servants. And when her Majesty entered the gate, there 
stood Hercules for Porter, who seeming to be amazed at such a 
presence, upon such a sudden, proffered to stay them. But yet 
at last being overcome by view of the rare beauty and princely 

1 " This serves to explain a passage in Laneham's Letter which has excited 
considerable doubt ; namely, that where he says, ' these trumpeters being six 
in number, were every one eight feet long,' see page 127 of the present work. 
It would appear that these were but figures constructed like all those used in 
ancient triumphs and pageants, of hoops, deal boards, pasteboard, paper, cloth, 
buckram, &c, which were gilded and coloured on the outside ; and within 
this case the real trumpeter was placed. An exhibition similar to that men- 
tioned in the text, is related by Holingshed, to have taken place when Queen 
Mary proceeded through London, before her Coronation, Sept. 30th, 1553. 
* At the upper end of Grace's Street/ says that minute chronicler, ' there 
was another pageant, made by the Florentines, verie high, on the top whereof 
there stood four pictures, and in the middest of them and most highest, there 
stood an angell all in greene, with a trumpet in his hand : and when the 
trumpetter (who stood secretlie in the pageant) did sound his trumpet, the 
angell did put his trumpet to his mouth, as though it had been the same that 
had sounded, to the great marvelling of many ignorant persons.'— Chronicles 
of JEng. 1586, fol. vol. iii. p. 1091. Selden, in his 'Table Talk/ when speak- 
ing of Judges, alludes to such figures. ' We see/ says he, ' the pageants in 
Cheapside, the lions, and the elephants, but we do not see the men that carry 
them/ 



KENILWOKTH CASTLE. 179 

countenance of her Majesty, yielded himself and his charge, pre- 
senting the keys unto her Highness, with these words : — 

" What stir, what coil is here ? corae hack, hold, whither now ? 
Not one so stout to stir, what harrying 1 have we here ? 
My friends a porter I, no poper here am plac'd : 
By leave perhaps, else not while club and limbs do last. 
A garboil 2 this indeed, what, yea, fair Dames ? what yea, 
What dainty darling's here ? oh God, a peerless pearl ; 
No worldly wight no doubt, some sovereign Goddess sure : 
Even face, even hand, even eye, even other features all, 
Yea beauty, grace, and cheer, yea port and majesty, 
Shew all some heavenly Peer, with virtues all beset. 
Come, come, most perfect paragon, pass on with joy and bliss, 
Most worthy welcome, Goddess guest, whose presence gladdeth all. 
Have here, have here, both club and keys, myself, my ward, I yield, 
E'en gates and all, yea Lord himself, submit and seek your shield. 

" These verses were devised and pronounced by Master Badger 
of Oxford, Master of Arts, and Bedel in the same University. 

"When her Majesty had entered the gate, and come into the 
base court, there came unto her a Lady attended with two 
nymphs, who came all over the pool, being so conveyed, that it 
seemed she had gone upon the water. This Lady named herself 
the Lady of the Lake, 3 who spake to her Highness as followeth : 

" Though haste say on, let suit obtain some stay, 
(Most peerless Prince, the honour of your kind) 
While that in short my state I do display, 

And yield you thanks for that which now I find, 
Who erst have wish'd that death me hence had fet, 4 
If gods, not born to die, had ow'd death any debt. 

" I am the Lady of this pleasant lake, 

Who since the time of great King Arthur's reign, 



1 " This word signifies an outry or chasing, and is derived from the Norman 
French Haro or Harron, which was a hue-and-cry after felons and malefactors 
— vide Phillips, and Jacob's ' Law Dictionary.' 

2 " Tumult or disorder — vide Phillips. 

3 See Laneham's description, page 128, of the present work. 

4 " The preterite and participle past of the ancient verb active to Fet, viz. 
to fetch, to go and bring. This word is evidently taken from the Saxon 
Fettan, petian, or jretisian, which are all of the same signification as the 
former — vide Bailey, Somner. 



180 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

That here with royal court ahode did make, 
Have led a low'ring life in restless pain. 
Till now that this your third arrival here 
Doth cause me come abroad, and boldly thus appear. 

" For after him, such storms this Castle shook, 

By swarming Saxons first who scourg'd this land, 
As forth of this my pool I ne'er durst look, 

Though Kenelm King of Merce did take in hand 
(As sorrowing to see it in deface) 
To rear these ruins up, and fortify this place. 

" For straight by Danes and Normans all this isle 

Was sore distress'd, and conquered at last. 

Whose force this Castle felt, and I therewhile 

Did hide my head, and though it straightway past 
Unto Lord Saintlowe's hands, I stood at bay : 
And never shew'd myself, but still in keep I lay. 

'" The Earl Sir Mountford's force gave me no heart. 

Sir Edmund Crouchback's state, the prince's sod, 
Could not cause me out of my lake to part, 

Nor Roger Mortimer's ruff, who first begun 
(As Arthur's heir) to keep the Table Round, 
Could not comfort my heart, or cause me come on ground. 

" Nor any owner else, not he that's now, 

(Such fear I felt again, some force to feel) 
Till now the Gods do seem themselves t' allow 
My coming forth, which at this time reveal 
By number due, that your thrice coming here 
Doth bode thrice happy hope, and voids 1 the place from fear. 

" Wherefore I will attend while you lodge here, 
(Most peerless Queen) to Court to make resort ; 
And, as my love to Arthur did appear, 
So shall 't to you in earnest and in sport. 

, — --Pass-on; Madam, you need no longer stand, 

The Lake, the Lodge, the Lord, are yours now to command. 



1 " An old English verb active, originally derived from the French Vider, 
to empty or leave vacant. It was frequently used in the sixteenth and seven- 
teenth centuries. Shakspeare in his Henry V. act v. scene vii. makes the King 
say, 

" 'Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill; 

If they will fight with us, bid them come down, 
Or void the field j they do offend our sight.' 



KENTLWORTH CASTLE. 181 

" These verses were devised and penned by M. Ferrers, sometime 
Lord of Misrule in the Court. 1 

" Her Majesty proceeding towards the inner court, passed on a 
bridge, the which was railed in on both sides. And on the tops 
of the posts thereof were set sundry presents, and gifts of pro- 
vision : as wine, corn, fruits, fishes, fowls, instruments of music, 
and weapons for martial defence. All which were expounded by 
an actor clad like a Poet, who pronouuced these verses in 
Latin : 

" Jupiter e suuimi dum vertice cernit Olympi, 
Hue, Princeps Regina, tuos te tendere gressus : 
Scilicit eximiaa succensus imagine formse, 
Et niemor antiqui qui semper ferverat ignis, 
Siccine Coelicolae pacientur turpiter (inquit) 
Muneris exortem Reginam hoc visere castrum, 
Quod tarn lseta subit ? Reliqui sensere tonantis 
Imperium superi, pro se dat quisque libenter : 
Musicolas Sylvanus aves ; Pomonaque poma, 
Eruges alma Ceres, rorantia vina Lyseus ; 
Neptunus pisces, tela et tutantia Mavors : 
Haec (Regina potens) superi dant munera divi : 
Ipse loci dominus dat se Castrumque Kenelmi. 

" These verses were devised by Master Muncaster, 2 and other 
verses to the very self-same effect were devised by M. Paton, and 
fixed over the gate in a frame. 1 am not very sure whether these 

1 For an interesting account of the Lord of Misrule, see note at end of the 
* Princely Pleasures.' 

2 "From Fuller's Worthies of England, edit. 1662, part III, p. 139, Wood's 
Athena Oxoniensis, vol. I, p. 369, and Wilson's Memorabilia Cantabrigice, 
p. 112, a few particulars may be gained of the life of this eminent scholar, 
Dr. Richard Mulcaster. He was the son of William Mulcaster, was born at 
Carlisle, and was descended from an ancient family in Cumberland, which had 
been employed by King William T. to defend the border provinces of England 
from the depredations of the Scots. After having received his education on 
the foundation at Eton, in 1548, he was elected to King's College, Cambridge ; 
but after taking one degree, he removed to Christ-Church, Oxford, to which 
he was elected in 1555. In December, 1556, he assumed his Bachelor's degree, 
and became so eminent for his Greek learning, that in 1561, he was made the 
first Master of the Merchant-Taylors' School, then recently founded. After 
passing upwards of twenty-live years in this situation, in 1596 he resigned it, 
and was made Head-master of St. Paul's, where he continued for twelve years 
more; and then, on the death of his wife, he retired to the Rectory of 
Stamford-Rivers, in Essex, which was given him by Queen Elizabeth. He 



182 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

or Master Paten's were pronounced by the Author, but they 
were all to one effect. This speech being ended, she was received 
into the inner court with sweet music. And, so alighting from 
her horse, the drums, fifes and trumpets sounded : wherewith she 
mounted the stairs, and went to her lodging. 

" On the next day (being Sunday) there was nothing done 
until the evening, at which time there were fireworks shewed 
upon the water, which were both strange and well executed ; as 
sometimes passing under the water a long space, when all men 
had thought they had been quenched, they would rise and mount 
out of the water again, and burn very furiously until they were 
utterly consumed. 

" Now to make some plainer declaration and rehearsal of all 
these things before her Majesty, on the tenth of July, there met 
her in the forest, as she came from hunting, one clad like a savage 
man, all in ivy, who, seeming to wonder at such a presence, fell to 
quarrelling with Jupiter as folio weth : — 

" ! thund'ring Jupiter, 

who swayest the heavenly sword ; 
At whose command all gods must crouch, 

and 'knowledge thee their Lord. 
Since I (0 wretch therewhiles) 

am here hy thy decree, 
Ordained thus in savage-wise 

for evermore to be. 
Since for some cause unknown, 

but only to thy will ; 
I may not come in stately Court, 

but feed in forests still. 
Vouchsafe yet, greatest god, 

that I the cause may know, 
Why all these worthy Lords and Peers 

are here assembled so ? 
Thou knowest (0 mighty god) 

no man can be so base, 
But needs must mount, if once it see 

a spark of perfect grace. 

was also, in 1594, made a Prebend of Salisbury, and was sometimes employed 
by the Queen in dramatic productions, since his name appears for two pay- 
ments in the Council-Register. On April 15th, 1611, Mulcaster died at his 
rectory, and was buried, in his own church, by the side of his wife. The 
works of Dr. Mulcaster were, 'Positions;' a book on the training up of 
children, 1581, 4to. : ' Elementarie,' a volume on the English language, 1582, 
4to. : and a Catechism for St. Paul's School, in Latin verse, 1599, 8vo. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 183 

And since I see such sights, 

I mean such glorious Dames, 
As kindle might in frozen breasts 

a furnace full of flames, 
I crave (great god) to know 

what all these Peers might be : 
And what has moved these sundry shews, 

which I of late did see ? 
Inform me, some good man, 

speak, speak, some courteous knight : 
They all cry mum ; what shall I do, 

what sun shall lend me light ? 
Well, Echo, where art thou ? 

could I but Echo find, 
She would return me answer yet 

by blast of every wind. 
Ho Echo — Echo, ho, 

where art thou, Echo, where ? 
Why, Echo, friend, where dwell'st thou now ! 

thou wont'st to harbour here. 

{Echo answered.) 
Echo. Here, 

then tell thou me some news, 
For else my heart would burst with grief, 
of truth it cannot chuse. 
Echo. Chuse. 

Chuse ? why ? but thou me help : 

I say my heart will break : 
And therefore even of courtesy, 

I pray thee Echo speak. 
Echo. Speak. 

I speak ? yes, that I will, 

unless thou be too coy, 
Then tell me first what is the cause, 
that all the people joy ? 
Echo. Joy. 

Joy ? surely that is so, 

as may full well be seen : 
But wherefore do they so rejoice ? 

is it for King or Queen ? 
Echo. Queen. 

Queen ? what, the Queen of Heaven ? 

they knew her long agone : 
No sure some Queen on earth, 

whose like was never none. 
Echo. None. 



184 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



O then it seems the Queen 

of England for to he, 
Whose graces make the Gods to grudge : 
methinks it should he she. 
Echo. She. 

And is it she indeed ? 

then tell what was meant 
By every shew that yet was seen, 
good Echo he content. 
Echo. Content. 

What mean'd the woman first, 

which met her as she came ? 
Could she divine of things to come, 
as Sibyls use the same ? 
Echo. The same. 

The same ? what Sibyl ? she, 

which useth not to lie ? 
Alas ! what did that heldame there ? 
what did she prophesy ? 
Echo. Prophesy. 

O then hy like she caus'd 

the worthy Queen to know t 
What happy reign she still should hold, 
since heaven's ordained so. 
Echo. So. 

And what mean'd those great men, 

which on the walls were seen ? 
They were some giants certainly, 

no men so big have been. 
Echo. Have been. 

Have been ? why then they served 

King Arthur man of might, 
And ever since this castle kept, 

for Arthur's heirs by right. 
Echo. Right. 

Well, Hercules stood by, 

why came he from his dorter P 1 
Or was it eke some monstrous man, 
appointed for a porter ? 
Echo. A porter. 

A porter ? surely then, 

he either was acrazed, 
Or else to see so many men, 

his spirits were amazed. 
Echo. Amazed. 



1 " A word derived from the French noun, Dortoir, a Dormitory. It origi- 
nally signified, according to Phillips, 'the common room or place where all 
the Friars of one Convent sleep together and lie all night/ 



KEN1LW0B.TH CASTLE. 



is: 



Amazed ? so methought, 

why did he let them pass : 
And yield his keys ? because he knew, 

his master's will so was. 
Echo. 

Well, then did he hut well, 

yet saw I yet a Dame : 
Much like the Lady of the Lake ; 

perchance so was her name. 
Echo. 

Alas, and what could she 

(poor dame distress'd) deserve ? 
I knew her well : percase she came 

this worthy Queen to serve. 
Echo. 

So would I her advise : 

but what mean'd all those shifts, 
Of sundry things upon a bridge ? 

were those rewards of gifts ? 
Echo. 

Gifts ? what ? sent from the god, 

as presents from above ? 

Or pleasures of provision, 

as tokens of true love ? 
Echo. 

And who gave all these gifts ? 

I pray thee (Echo) say. 
Was it not he, who (but of late) 

this building here did lay ? 
Echo. 

Dudley, so methought : 

he gave himself and all, 

A worthy gift to be received, 

and so I trust it shall. 
Echo. 

What mean'd the fiery flames, 

which through the waves so flew ? 
Can no cold answers quench desire ? 

is that experience true ? 
Echo. 

Well, Echo, tell me yet, 

how might I come to see 
This comely Queen of whom we talk ? 
oh were she now by thee ! 
Echo. 



So was. 



Her name. 



To serve. 



Gifts. 



True love. 



Dudley. 



It shall. 



True. 



By thee. 



186 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

By mo ? oh were that true, 

how might I see her face ? 
How might I know her from the rest, 
or judge her by her grace ? 
"Echo. Her grace. 

Well then, if so mine eyes 

be such as they have been, 
Methinks I see among them all, 

this same should be the Queen. 
Echo. The Queen. 

" Herewith he fell on his knees and spake as followeth : — 

" Queen ! I must confess, 

it is not without cause : 
These civil people so rejoice, 

that you should give them laws. 
Since I, which live at large, 

a wild and savage man, 
And have run out a wilful race, 

since first my life began, 
Do here submit myself, 

beseeching you to serve : 
And that you take in worth my will, 

which can but well deserve. 
Had I the learned skill, 

which in your head is found : 
My tale had flow'd in eloquence, 

where now my words are drown'd. 
Had I the beauteous blaze, 

which shines in you so bright : 
Then might I seem a falcon fair, 

which now am but a kite. 
Could I but touch the strings 

which you so heavenly handle ; 
I would confess, that fortune then, 

full friendly did me dandle. 
O Queen (without compare) 

you must not think it strange, 
That here amid this wilderness, 

your glory so doth range. 
The winds resound your worth, 

the rocks record your name : 
These hills, these dales, these woods, these waves, 

these fields pronounce your fame. 
And we which dwell abroad 

can hear none other news, 
But tidings of an English Queen, 

whom heaven hath deck'd with hues. 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 187 

Yea, since I first was born, 

I never joy'd so much : 
As when I might behold your face, 

because I see none such. 
And death or dreary dole 

(I know) will end my days, 
As soon as you shall once depart, 

or wish to go your ways. 
But, comely peerless Prince, 

since my desires be great : 
Walk here sometimes in pleasant shade, 

to 'fend the parching heat. 
On Thursday next (think I) 

here will be pleasant Dames : 
Who bet than I 1 may make you glee, 

with sundry gladsome games. 
Meanwhile (good Queen) farewell, 

the gods your life prolong : 
And take in worth the Wild-Man's words, 

or else you do him wrong." 

" Then he bad JEcho farewell, thus : — 

" Echo likewise farewell, 

let me go seek some death, 
Since I may see this Queen no more, 

good grief now stop my breath." 

" These verses were devised, penned, and pronounced by Master 
Gascoyne : and that (as I have heard credibly reported) upon a 
very great sudden. 

" The next thing that was presented before her Majesty 
was the delivery of the Lady of the Lake : whereof the sum 
was this. Triton in likeness of a mermaid, came toward the 
Queen's Majesty as she passed over the bridge, returning from 
hunting. And to her declared that Neptune had sent him to her 
Highness, to declare the woeful distress wherein the poor Lady 
of the Lake did remain, the cause whereof was this. Sir Bruce 
sans pitie, in revenge of his cousin Merlin the Prophet, 2 (whom 

1 " An ancient poetical contraction, and also the original Saxon word Bet, 
used for better. During the repetition of the five lines preceding the above, 
a marginal note, in the first edition of the Princely Pleasures, states that 
'the Queene saide the actor was blind/ in consequence of whicb, at p. 202, 
Audax, his Son, comes to entreat her Majesty to restore his father to sight. 

3 " The original of this story, as well as the history of the Lady of the Lake 
herself, is to be found in the well-known romance of La Morte d' 'Arthur ; for 



188 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

for his inordinate lust she had inclosed in a rock) did continually 
pursue the Lady of the Lake : and had (long since) surprised her, 
but that Neptune (pitying her distress) had environed her with 
waves. Whereupon she was enforced to live always in that Pool, 
and was thereby called the Lady of the Lake. Furthermore 
affirming that by Merlin's prophecy, it seemed she could never 
be delivered but by the presence of a better maid than herself. 
Wherefore Neptune had sent him right humbly to beseech her 
Majesty that she would no more but shew herself, and it should 
be sufficient to make Sir Bruce withdraw his forces. Further- 
more, commanding both the waves to be calm, and the fishes 
to give their attendance : And this he expressed in verse as 
f olloweth : — 

The Speech of Triton to the Queen's Majesty. 

"Muse not at all, most mighty Prince, 

though on this lake you see 
Me, Triton, float, that in salt seas 

among the gods should he. 
For look what Neptune doth command, 

of Triton is oheyed : 
And now in charge I am to guide 

your poor distressed maid ; 
Who, when your Highness hither came, 

did humbly yield her Lake ; 
And to attend upon your Court, 

did loyal promise make. 
But parting hence that ireful knight, 

Sir Bruce had her in chace : 
And sought by force, her virgin's state, 

full foully to deface. 
Yea, yet at hand about these banks, 

his bands be often seen : 
That neither can she come nor 'scape, 

but by your help, Qneen ; 
For though that Neptune has so fenc'd 

with floods her fortress long, 
Yet Mars her foe must needs prevail, 

his batteries are so strong. 

the first chapter of the fourth book is thus entitled : * How Merlyn was 
assotted and dooted on one of the lades of the lake, and how he was shytte in 
a roche, vnder a stone, and there deyed/ The idea of Sir Bruce's revenge 
seems to be without foundation. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 189 

How then can Dian, Juno's force, 

and sharp assaults abide ? 
When all the crew of chiefest gods 

is bent on Bruce's side. 
Yea, oracle and prophecy, 

say sure she cannot stand, 
Except a worthier maid than she 

her cause do take in hand. 
Lo, here therefore a worthy work, 

most fit for you alone ; 
Her to defend and set at large 

(but you, Queen) can none : 
And gods decree and Neptune sues, 

this grant, O peerless Prince : 
Your presence only shall suffice 

her enemies to convince. 

Herewith Triton sounded his trumpet and spoke to the winds, 
waters, and fishes, as followeth : — 

" You winds return into your caves, 
and silent there remain : 
You waters wild suppress your waves, 
and keep you calm and plain. 
You fishes all, and each thing else, 
that here have any sway ; 
I charge you all in Neptune's name, 

you keep you at a stay. 
Until such time this puissant Prince 

Sir Bruce hath put to flight : 
And that the maid released be, 

by sovereign maiden's might. 

" This speech being ended, her Majesty proceeded further on 
the bridge, and the Lady of the Lake (attended with her two 
nymphs) came to her upon heaps of bulrushes, according to this 
former device : and spake as followeth : — 

" What worthy thanks might I, poor maid, express, 
Or think in heart, that is not justly due 
To thee (O Queen) which in my great distress 
Succours hast sent mine enemies to subdue ? 
Not mine alone, but foe to ladies all, 
That tyrant Bruce sans pitie, whom we call. 

" Until this day, the lake was never free 

From his assaults, and other of his knights : 

Until such time as he did plainly see 

Thy presence dread, and feared of all wights : 

Which made him yield, and all his bragging bands, 

Resigning all into thy Princely hands. 



190 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

" For which great grace of liberty obtain' d, 
Not only I, but nymphs, and sisters all, 
Of this large lake, with humble heart unfeign'd 
Render thee thanks, and honour thee withal. 
And for plain proof, how much we do rejoice, 
Express the same, with tongue, with sound, and voice. 

" From thence her Majesty passing yet further on the bridge, 
Proteus appeared, sitting on a dolphin's back. The dolphin was 
conveyed upon a boat, so that the oars seemed to be his fins. 
Within which dolphin a concert of music was secretly placed, 
which sounded, and Proteus clearing his voice, sang this song of 
congratulation, as well in the behalf of the Lady distressed, as 
also in the behalf of all the nymphs and gods of the sea. 

The Song of Proteus. 

" O Noble Queen, give ear 

to this my floating muse : 
And let the right of ready will 

my little skill excuse. 
For herdmen of the seas 

sing not the sweetest notes : 
The winds and waves do roar and cry 

where Phoebus seldom floats. 
Yet since I do my best, 

in^thankful wise to sing ; 
Vouchsafe (good Queen) that calm consent 

these words to you may bring : 
We yield you humble thanks, 

in mighty Neptune's name, 
Both for ourselves and therewithal 

for yonder seemly Dame. 
A Dame, whom none but you 

deliver could from thrall : 
No, none but you deliver us 

from loitering life withal. 
She pined long in pain, 

as overworn with woes : 
And we consum'd in endless care, 

to 'fend her from her foes. 
Both which you set at large, 

most like a faithful friend : 
Your noble name be prais'd therefore, 

and so my song I end. 

"This song being ended, Proteus told the Queen's Majesty a 
pleasant tale of his delivery, and the fishes which he had in 
charge. The device of the Lady of the Lake was also by Master 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 191 

Hunnis : and surely if it had been executed according to the first 
invention, it had been a gallant shew : for it was first devised, 
that (two days before the Lady of the Lake's delivery) a captain 
with twenty or thirty shot should have been sent from the heron 
house 1 (which represented the Lady of the Lake's Castle) upon 
heaps of bulrushes : and that Sir Bruce, shewing a great power 
upon the land, should have sent out as many or more shot to 
surprise the said Captain, and so they should have skirmished 
upon the waters in such sort, that no man could perceive but 
that they went upon the waves : at last (Sir Bruce' s men being 
put to flight) the Captain should have come to her Majesty at 
the castle window, and have declared more plainly the distress of 
bis mistress, and the cause that she came not to the court 
according to duty and promise, to give her attendance : and that 
thereupon he should have besought her Majesty to succour his 
mistress : the rather because Merlin had prophesied that she 
should never be delivered but by the presence of a better maid 
than herself. This had not only been a more apt introduction to 
her delivery, but also the skirmish by night would have been both 
very strange and gallant : and thereupon her Majesty might have 
taken good occasion to have gone in her barge upon the water, 
for the better execution of her delivery. The verses, as I think, 
were penned, some by Master Hunnis, some by Master Eerrers, 
and some by Master Goldingham. 2 

1 " The marginal notes to the first edition of Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures, 
states that ' there was a Heron House in the Pool ;' the original survey of the 
Manor preserved in the Cottonian Library, Tiberius, E. viii, 246, is, however, 
so damaged by fire, that this building is never mentioned. 

2 " Of Henry Goldingham only a very few memoranda are now extant : like 
many scholars of his time, he appears to have been employed, both as a writer 
and an actor of pageants, as in the present instance, when he performed A rion. 
A whole masque of his composing will be found in ' The receiving of the 
Queen e's Majestie into her Citie of Norwich/ which was printed in Mr. 
Nichols's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. II, p. 26, of that particular 
tract. There is also in the Harleian Manuscripts, preserved in the British 
Museum, a poem by Goldingham, which is referred to in vol. III. of Queen 
Elizabeth's Progresses, p. x. In the Harleian Catalogue, edit. 1808, vol. III. 
p. 447, it is thus described : ' Numb. 6902. A Quarto containing a Poem 
inscribed to Queen Elizabeth by Henry Goldyngham, and entitled the Garden 
Plot. It is an allegorical poem, (118 verses) with a long introduction, (46 
verses) in stanzas of six lines. This copy is prepared for introducing illumi- 
nations, but none are finished.' In another Harleian Manuscript, No. 3695, 
which is a collection of ' Merry Passages and Jeasts,' are two anecdotes con- 



192 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

" And now you have as much as I could recover hitherto of the 
devices executed there ; the Coventry shew excepted, and the 
merry marriage i 1 the which were so plain as needeth no further 
explication. To proceed then, there was prepared a shew to have 
been presented before her Majesty in the forest ; 
The argument whereof was this : 

"Diana passing in chase with her nymphs, took knowledge of 
the country, and thereby called to mind how (near seventeen 
years past) she lost in those coasts one of her best beloved 
nymphs, called Zabeta. 2 She described the rare virtues of 
Zabeta. One of her nymphs confirmed the remembrance thereof, 
and seemed to doubt that Dame Juno had won Zabeta to be a 
follower of hers : Diana confirmed the suspicion ; but yet 
affirming herself much in Zabeta s constancy, gave charge to her 
cerning Goldingham, one of which, as it relates to the Kenilworth Pageant, 
is here transcribed, but the other is wholly unworthy of being extracted. 

"'221. There was a spectacle presented to Q: Elizabeth vpon the water, 
and amongst others, Har : Golding : was to represent Arion vpon the Dolphin's 
backe, but finding his voice to be very hoarse and vnpleasant when he came 
to perform e it, he teares of his disguise, and sweares he was none of Arion, 
not he, but honest Har : Goldingham ; which blunt discoverie pleasd the 
Queene better, then if it had gone thorough in the right way ; yet he could 
order his voice to an instrument exceeding well/ In the romance of Kenil- 
worth this incident is given to a fictitious but well-drawn character called 
Michael Lambourne, vide vol. Ill, p. 79. Before closing this note, it should 
be remarked, that in the text the name of Proteus is erroneously inserted for 
Arion. 

1 "All the circumstances respecting the Coventry shew, and the merry 
marriage, here noticed, are particularly described in Laneham's Letter, see 
pages 136—143. 

2 "A title formed from the last three syllables of the Queen's name, when 
translated into Latin, viz. : Elizabetha. She is, in page 214, called by several 
other appellations, as Ahtebasile, Complete/,, and Complacida. The first of 
these when divided thus, Ah te basile, signifies Ah thou Queen, taking the 
word basile, for BaaiXkiGat ; the second is the feminine gender in the nomi- 
native case, of the Latin adjective Completus, accomplished, complete; and 
the third is also a female name, expressive of pleasing or delighting. It is 
evident, that both the exhibitions in which these names were used, were com- 
posed to display to Elizabeth the national wish for her marriage with Lord 
Leicester; who is represented in the latter under the name of Deep-desire ; 
while it is probable that Due-desire was meant for the Earl of Essex, and 
that all the other allegorical characters were but the types of real personages 
at the Court. Dudley in this manner showed his policy, by enforcing his own 
suit, and depreciating his rivals, even when the Queen had withdrawn from 
the intrigues of government, to pleasure and retirement. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 193 

nymphs, that they diligently hearken and espy in all places to fiud 
or hear news of Zabeta : and so passed on. 

" To entertain intervallum temporis, a man clad all in moss 
came in lamenting, and declared that he was the wild man's son, 
which (not long before) had presented himself before her Majesty ; 
and that his father (upon such words as her Highness did then 
use unto him) lay languishing like a blind man, until it might 
please her Highness to take the film from his eyes. 

" The nymphs return one after another in quest of Zabeta; at 
last Diana herself returning, and hearing no news of her, invoked 
the help of her father Jupiter. Mercury cometh down in a cloud, 
sent by Jupiter, to recomfort Diana, and bringeth her unto Zabeta. 
Diana rejoiceth, and after much friendly discourse departeth : 
affying 1 herself in Zabeta s prudence and policy : She and 
Mercury being departed, Iris cometh down from the rainbow sent 
by Juno : persuading the Queen's Majesty that she be not carried 
away with Mercury's filed 2 speech, nor Diana's fair words ; but 
that she consider all things by proof, and then she shall find 
much greater cause to follow Juno than Diana. 

The Interlocutors were these : 
Diana : Goddess of Chastity. 
Castibula, Anamale, Nichalis : Diana's nymphs. 
Mercury : Jove's messenger. 
Iris : Juno's messenger. 
Audax : the son of Silvester. 

ACTUS 1. SCENA 1. 
Diana. Castibula. 
Mine own dear nymphs, which 'knowledge me your Queen, 

And vow (like me) to live in chastity ; 
My lovely nymphs (which he as I have heen) 

Delightful Dames, and gems of jollity : 
Eejoicing yet (much more) to drive your days 

In life at large, that yieldeth calm content, 
Than wilfully to tread the wayward ways 

Of wedded state, which is to thraldom bent. 
I need not now, with curious speech persuade 

Your chaste consents, in constant vow to stand ; 
But yet beware lest Cupid's knights invade, 

By slight, by force, by mouth, or mighty hand, 

1 "Assuring; the word is originally derived from the French verb active 
Tier, to trust or rely upon. Another edition reads affirming. 

2 " Smooth, polished. — Probably from Fyro, a folding or rolling. 

13 



194 KENILWOftTH CASTLE. 

The stately tower of your unspotted minds : 

Beware (I say) least while we walk these woods,, 
In pleasant chase of swiftest harts and hinds, 

Some harmful heart entrap your harmless moods : 
You know these holts, 1 these hills, these covert places, 

May close convey some hidden force unseen ; 
You see likewise, the sundry gladsome graces, 

Which in this soil we joyfully have seen, 
Are not unlike some court to keep at hand : 

Where guileful tongues, with sweet enticing tales, 
Might (Circe like) set all your ships on sand : 

And turn your present "bliss to after hales. 
In sweetest flowers the subtle snakes may lurk : 

The sugar'd bait oft hides the harmful hooks; 
The smoothest words draw wills to wicked work 

And deep deceits do follow fairest looks. 

Hereat pausing, and looking about her, she took 
knowledge of the coast, and proceeded : 

But what ? alas ! oh whither wander we ? 

What chase hath led us thus into this coast ? 
By sundry signs I now perceive we be 

In Brutus' land, whereof he made such boast, 
Which Albion in olden days did hight, 2 

And Britain next by Brute his noble name : 
Then Hengist's land as chronicles do write : 

Now England short, a land of worthy fame. 
Alas, behold how memory breeds moan : 

Behold and see, how sight brings sorrow in, 
My restless thoughts have made me woe begone ; 

My gazing eyes did all this grief begin. 
Believe me (nymphs) I feel great grips of grief, 

Which bruise my breast, to think how here I lost 
(Now long ago) a love to me most lefe. 3 

Content you all : her whom I loved most : 
You cannot choose hut call unto your mind 

Zabeta's name, who twenty years or more 
Did follow me, still scorning Cupid's kind, 

And vowing so to serve me evermore : 
You cannot choose but bear in memory, 

Zabeta, her, whose excellence was such, 
In all respect of every quality, 

As gods themselves those gifts in her did grudge. 

1 "Small woods, or groves, — derived from the Saxon Holre. 
8 "Named, called. 
3 " Dear-beloved. 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 195 

My sister first, which Pallas hath to name, 

Envied Zabeta for her learned brain. 
My sister Venus fear'd Zabeta's fame, 

Whose gleams of grace, her beauties blaze did stain ; 
Apollo dread to touch an instrument, 

Where my Zabeta chanc'd to come in place : 
Yea Mercury was not so eloquent, 

Nor in his words had half so good a grace. 
My step-dame, Juno, in her glittering guise, 

Was nothing like so heavenly to behold; 
Short tale to make, Zabeta was the wight, 1 

On whom to think my heart now waxeth cold. 
1 The fearful bird oft lets her food downfall, 

' Which finds her nest despoiled of her young ;' 
Much like myself, whose mind such moans appal, 

To see this soil, and therewithal among, 
To think how now near seventeen years ago, 

By great mishap I chanc'd to lose her here : 
But, my dear nymphs, (on hunting as you go) 

Look narrowly : and hearken every where : 
It cannot be, that such a star as she 

Can lose her light for any low'ring cloud : 
It cannot be, that such a saint to see 

Can long inshrine her seemly self so shroud. 
I promise here, that she which first can bring 

The joyful news of my Zabeta's life, 
Shall never break her bow, nor fret her string. 

I promise eke, that never storm of strife 
Shall trouble her. Now nymphs look well about : 
Some happy eye, spy my Zabeta out. 

" Castibula. 

" heavenly Dame, thy woeful words have pierc'd 

The very depth of my forgetful mind : 
And by the tale which thou hast here rehears'd, 

I yet record those heavenly gifts which shined 
Triumphantly in bright Zabeta's deeds : 

But therewithal, a spark of jealousy, 
With nice conceit, my mind thus far-forth feeds; 

That she which always liked liberty, 
And could not bow to bear the servile yoke, 

Of false suspect, which mars these lovers marts, 
Was never one to like that smould'ring smoke, 

Without some feat, that passeth common arts. 



"A person. — Saxon UJihr ; a creature, an animal. 



196 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

I dread Dame Juno, with some gorgeous gift, 

Hath laid some snare her fancy to entrap, 
And hopeth so her lofty mind to lift 

On Hymen's bed, by height of worldly hap. 

" Diana. 

" My loving nymph, even so fear I likewise, 

And yet to speak as truth and cause requires, 
I never saw Zabeta use the guise, 

Which gave suspect of such unchaste desires. 
Full twenty years I marked still her mind, 

ISTor could I see that any spark of lust 
A loitering lodge within her breast could find. 

How so it be (dear nymphs) in you I trust : 
To hark, and mark, what might of her betide ; 

And what mishap withholds her thus from me. 
High Jove himself my lucky steps so guide, 

That I may once mine own Zabeta see. 

Diana with her nymphs proceed in chase : and, to entertain 
time, cometh in one clad in moss, saying as followeth : 

ACTUS 1. SCENA 2. 
Atjdax solus. 
"If ever pity pierc'd 

a peerless Princess's breast ; 
Or ruthful moan mov'd noble mind 

to grant a just request; 
Then, worthy Queen, give ear 

unto my woeful tale : 
For needs that son must sob and sigh 

whose father bides in bale. 
O Queen, stately Queen, 

I am that wild man's son, 
Which not long since before you here, 

presumed for to run. 
Who told you what he thought 

of all your virtues rare : 
And therefore ever since (and yet) 

he pines in woe and care. 
Alas, alas, good Queen, 

it were a cruel deed 
To punish him who speaks no more 

but what he thinks indeed. 
Especially when as 

all men with him consent, 
And seem with common voice to prove 

the pith of his intent. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 197 

You heard what Echo said 

to every word he spake ; 
You hear the speech of Dian's nymphs, 

and what reports they make. 
And can your Highness then 

condemn him to he blind ? 
Or can yon so with needless grief 

torment his harmless mind ? 
His eyes (good Queen) he great, 

so are they clear and grey : 
He never yet had pin or web, 

his sight for to decay. 
And sure the dames that dwell 

in woods abroad with us, 
Have thought his eyes of skill enough, 

their beauties to discuss. 
For proof your Majesty 

may now full plainly see : 
He did not only see you then, 

but more he did foresee. 
What after should betide, 

he told you that (ere long) 
You should find here bright heavenly dames 

would sing the selfsame song. 
And now you find it true, 

that he did then pronounce, 
Your praises peyze 1 by them a pound, 

which he weigh'd but an ounce. 
For sure he is nor blind, 

nor lame of any limb : 
But yet because you told him so, 

he doubts his eyes are dim. 
And I therefore (his son) 

your Highness here beseech, 
To take in worth (as subjects due) 

my father's simple speech. 
And if you find some film, 

that seems to hide his eyes : 
Youchsafe, good Queen, to take it off, 

in gracious wonted wise. 
He sighing lies and says, 

god put mine eyes out clean, 
Ere choice of change in England fall, 

to see another Queen. 

Finis Actus 1. 



1 Peyze — weigh. Fr. peser. 



198 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 1. 
Anamale sola. 

" WOULD god I either had some Argus' eyes, 

Or such an ear as every tiding hears ; 
Oh that I could some subtlety devise, 

To hear or see what mould Zabeta bears, 
That so the mood of my Diana's mind 

Might rest (by me) contented or appeas'd 
And I likewise might so her favour find, 

Whom, goddess like, I wish to have well pleas'd. 
Some courteous wind come blow me happy news ; 

Some sweet bird sing and shew me where she is ; 
Some forest god, or some of Faunus' crew, 

Direct my feet if so they tread amiss." 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 2. 

Nicolis sola. 

" If ever Echo sounded at request 

To satisfy an uncontented mind, 
Then Echo now come help me in my quest ; 

And tell me where I might Zabeta find. 
Speak, Echo, speak, where dwells Zabeta, where ? 

Alas, alas, or she, or I am deaf. 
She answered not, ha ! what is that I hear ? 

Alas it was the shaking of some leaf. 
Well, since I hear not tidings in this place, 

I will go seek her out in some place else : 
And yet my mind divineth in this case, 

That she is here, or not far off she dwells." 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 3. 
Diana with her Train. 

" No news, my nymphs ? well then I may well think, 

That carelessly you have of her enquired ; 
And since from me in this distress you shrink, 

While I (meanwhile) my weary limbs have tired ; 
My father, Jove, vouchsafe to rue my grief, 

Since here on earth I call for help in vain : 
O, King of kings, send thou me some relief, 

That I may see Zabeta once again." 



KEN I LWORTH CASTLE. 199 

ACTUS 2. SCENA 4. 
Mercury, Diana, and the Nymphs. 

" goddess, cease thy moan, 

thy plaints have pierc'd the skies, 
And Jove, thy friendly father, hath 

vouchsaf 'd to hear thy cries. 
Yea more, he hath vouchsaf'd, 

in haste (post haste) to send 
Me down from heaven to heal thy harm, 

and all thy miss to mend. 
Zabeta, whom thou seek'st, 

(in heart) ev'n yet is thine, 
And passingly in wonted wise 

her virtues still do shine. 
But as thou dost suspect, 

Dame Juno train' d a trap, 
And many a day to win her will, 

hath lull'd her in her lap. 
For first these sixteen years 

she hath been daily seen, 
In richest realm that Europe hath, 

a comely crowned Queen. 
And Juno hath likewise 

suborned sundry kings, 
The richest and the bravest both 

that this our age forth brings : 
With other worthy wights, 

which sue to her for grace ; 
And cunningly, with quaint conceits, 

do plead the lover's case. 
Dame Juno gives her wealth, 

dame Juno gives her ease, 
Dame Juno gets her every good 

that woman's will may please. 
And so in joy and peace 

she holdeth happy days : 
Not as thou thought'st, nor done to death, 

or won to wicked ways. 
For though she find the skill 

a kingdom for to wield, 
Yet cannot Juno win her will, 

nor make her once to yield 
Unto the wedded life, 

but still she lives at large, 
And holds her neck from any yoke, 

without control of charge. 



200 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Thus much it pleased Jove 

that I to thee should say, 
And furthermore, by words express, 

he bade I should not stay ; 
But bring thee to the place 

wherein Zabeta bides, 
To prop up so thy staggering mind, 

Which in these sorrows slides. 
O goddess, then be blithe, 

let comfort chase out grief, 
Thy heavenly Father's will it is 

to lend thee such relief. 

" Diana. 

" Noble Mercury, 

dost thou me then assure 
That I shall see Zaheta's face, 

and that she doth endure 
(Even yet) in constant vow 

of chaste unspotted life : 
And that my step- dame cannot yet 

make her a wedded wife ? 
If that be so indeed, 

Muses, help my voice, 
Whom grief and groans have made so hoarse, 

1 cannot well rejoice. 
Muses, sound the praise 

of Jove, his mighty name ; 
And you, dear nymphs, which me attend, 
by duty do the same. 

Here Diana, with her nymphs, assisted by a concert of music 
unseen, should sing this song, or rondeau following : 

" Muses, now come help me to rejoice, 

Since Jove hath changed my grief to sudden joy ; 
And since the chance whereof I craved choice, 
Is granted me to comfort mine annoy : 

O praise the name of Jove, who promised plain 
That I shall see Zabeta once again. 

" gods of woods, and goddess Flora eke, 

Now clear your breasts and bear a part with me : 
My jewel she, for whom I wont to seek, 
Is yet full safe, and soon I shall her see. 

praise the name of Jove, who promised plain 
That I shall see Zabeta once again. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 201 

" And you, dear nymphs, who know what cruel care 
I bare in breast since she from me did part, 
May well conceive what pleasures I prepare, 
And how great joys I harbour in my heart. 

Then praise the name of Jove, who promised plain 
That I shall see Zdbeta once again. 

" Meecuey. 

Come, goddess, come with me, 

thy leisures last too long °, 
For now thou shalt her here behold, 

for whom thou sing'st this song. 
Behold where here she sits, 

whom thou so long hast sought : 
Embrace her since she is to thee 

a jewel dearly bought. 
And I will now return 

to God in heaven on high i 
Who grant you both always to please 

his heavenly Majesty. 

Mercury departeth to Jieaven, 

What do I dream ? or doth my mind but muse ? 
Is this my leefe, my love, and my delight ? 
Or did this god my longing mind abuse, 

To feed my fancy with a feigned sight ? 
Is this Zdbeta, is it she indeed ? 

It is she sure : Zdbeta mine, all hail ! 
And though dame Fortune seemeth you to feed 

With princely port, which serves for your avail, 
Yet give me leave to gaze you in the face, 

Since now (long since) myself, yourself did seek, 
And be content, for all your stately grace, 

Still to remain a maiden always meek, 
Zabeta mine (now Queen of high renown), 

You know how well I loved you always ; 
And long before you did achieve this crown, 

You know how well you seem'd to like my ways : 
Since when, you (won by Juno's gorgeous gifts) 

Have left my lawns and closely kept in com*t ; 
Since when, delight and pleasure's gallant shifts 

Have fed your mind with many a princely sport. 
But, peerless Queen, (sometime my peerless maid) 

And yet the same as Mercury doth tell, 
Had you but known how much I was dismay'd 

When first you did forsake with me to dwell ; 



202 KEN I L WORTH CASTLE. 

Had you but felt what privy pangs I had, 

Because I could not find you forth again, 
I know full well yourself would have been sad, 

To put me so to proof of pinching pain. 
Well, since Dan Jove (my father) me assures, 

That, notwithstanding all my step-dame's wiles, 
Your maiden's mind yet constant still endures, 

Though well content a Queen to be therewhiles ; 
And since by prudence and by policy, 

You win from Juno so much worldly wealth, 
And since the pillar of your chastity 

Still standeth fast, as Mercury me tell'th, 
I joy with you, and leave it to your choice 

What kind of life you best shall like to hold ; 
And in meanwhile I cannot but rejoice 

To see you thus bedeck'd with glistering gold ; 
To see you have this train of stately dames, 

Of whom each one may seem some goddess peei 1 , 
And you yourself (by due desert of fame) 

A goddess full, and so I leave you here, 
It shall suffice that on your faith I trust ; 

It shall suffice that once I have you seen ; 
Farewell ; not as I would, but as I must, 

Farewell, my nymph, farewell, my noble Queen. 

" Diana with Tier Train departetJi. 



ACTUS 2. SCENA ultima. 
" Ieis sola. 

" Oh lo, I come too late, 

oh, why had I no wings ? 
To help my willing feet, which fet 

these hasty frisking flings j 
Alas, I come too late, 

that babbling god is gone : 
And Dame Diana fled likewise, 

here stands the Queen alone. 
Well, since a bootless plaint 

but little would prevail, 
I will go tell the Queen my tale : 

O, peerless Prince, all hail, 
The Queen of heaven herself 

did send me to control 
That tattling traitor, Mercury, 

who hopes to get the goal, 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 203 

By curious filed speech, 

abusing you by art : 
But, Queen, bad I come soon enough, 

he should have felt the smart. 
And you, whose wit excels, 

whose judgment hath no peer, 
Bear not in mind those flattering words 

which he expressed here. 
You know that in his tongue 

consists his chiet'est might ; 
You know his eloquence can serve 

to make the crow seem white. 
But come to deeds indeed, 

and then you shall perceive 
Which goddess means you greatest good, 

and which would you deceive. 
Call you to mind the time 

in which you did insue 1 
Diana's chase, and were not yet 

a guest of Juno's crew. 
Remember all your life 

before you were a Queen : 
And then compare it with the days 

which you since then have seen. 
Were you not captive caught ? 

were you not kept in walls ? 
Were you not forc'd to lead a life 

like other wretched thralls ? 
Where was Diana then ? 

why did she you not aid ? 
Why did she not defend your state 

which were and are her maid ? 
Who brought you out of briers ? 

who gave you rule of realms ? 
Who crowned first your comely head 

with princely diadems ? 
Even Juno, she which mean'd, 

and yet doth mean likewise, 
To give you more than will can wish, 

or wit can well devise. 
Wherefore, good Queen, forget 

Diana's dicing tale : 
Let never needless dread presume 

to bring your bliss to bale. 



1 Insue — follow. 



204 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

How necessary were 

for worthy Queens to wed, 
That know you well, whose life always 

in learning hath been led. 
The country craves consent, 

your virtues vaunt each self, 
And Jove in heaven would smile to see 

Diana set on shelf. 
His Queen hath sworn (but you) 

there shall no more be such : 
You know she lies with Jove a-nights, 

and night-ravens may do much. 
Then give consent, Queen, 

to Juno's just desire, 
Who for your wealth would have you wed, 

and, for your farther hire, 
Some Empress will you make, 

she bade me tell you thus : 
Forgive me (Queen), the words are hers, 

I come not to discuss : 
I am but messenger, 

but sure she bade me say, 
That where you now in princely port 

have past one pleasant day : 
A world of wealth at will 

you henceforth shall enjoy 
In wedded state, and therewithal 

hold up from great annoy 
The staff of your estate : 

O Queen, O worthy Queen, 
Yet never wight felt perfect bliss, 

but such as wedded been. 

Tarn Marti, quam Mercurio. 

i 'This shew was devised and penned by Master Grascoigne, 
and being prepared and ready (every Actor in his garment) two 
or three days together, yet never came to execution. The cause 
whereof I cannot attribute to any other thing, then to lack of 
opportunity and seasonable weather. 

" The Queen's Majesty hastening her departure from thence, 
the Earl commanded Master Gascoigne to devise some farewell 
worth the presenting ; whereupon he himself clad like unto 
Sylvanus, god of the woods, and meeting her as she went on 
hunting, spake {ex tempore) as followeth : — 

" ' Eight excellent, puissant, and most happy Princess, whiles 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 205 

I walk in these woods and wilderness (whereof I have the charge) 
I have often mused with myself, that your Majesty being so highly 
esteemed, so entirely beloved, and so largely endued by the 
celestial powers : you can yet continually give ear to the counsel 
of these terrestrial companions ; and so, consequently, pass your 
time wheresoever they devise or determine that it is meet for 
your Royal Person to be resident. Surely if your Highness did 
understand (as it is not to me unknown) what pleasures have 
been for you prepared, what great good will declared, what joy 
and comfort conceived in your presence, and what sorrow and 
grief sustained by likelihood of your absence, yea, (and that by 
the whole bench in heaven) since you first arrived in these coasts, 
I think it would be sufficient to draw your resolute determination 
for ever to abide in this country, and never to wander any further 
by the direction and advice of these Peers and Counsellors ; since 
thereby the heavens might greatly be pleased, and most men 
thoroughly recomforted. But, because I rather wish the increase 
of your delights, than any way to diminish the heap of your con- 
tentment, I will not presume to stay your hunting for the hearing 
of my needless, thriftless, and bootless discourse; but I do 
humbly beseech that your excellency will give me leave to attend 
you as one of your footmen, wherein I undertake to do you 
double service; for I will not only conduct your Majesty in 
safety from the perilous passages which are in these woods and 
forests, but will also recount unto you (if your Majesty vouch- 
safe to hearken thereunto) certain adventures, neither unpleasant 
to hear, nor unprofitable to be marked. 

Herewith her Majesty proceeded, and Sylvanus continued as 
follow eth : — 

"'There are not yet twenty days past (most noble Queen) 
since I have been, by the Procuror- General, twice severally 
summoned to appear before the great gods in their Council- 
chamber ; and making mine appearance according to my duty, I 
have seen in heaven two such exceeding great contrarieties, or 
rather two such wonderful changes as draw me into deep admi- 
ration and sudden perplexity. At my first coming I found the 
whole company of heaven in such a jollity, as I rather want skill 
to express it lively, than will to declare it readily. There was 
nothing in any corner to be seen, but rejoicing and mirth, singing, 
dancing, melody and harmony, amiable regards, plentiful rewards, 
tokens of love, and great good will, trophies and triumphs, gifts 



206 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

and presents, (alas, my breath and memory fail me) leaping, 
frisking, and clapping of hands. 

" ' To conclude, there was the greatest feast and joy that ever 
eye saw, or ear heard tell of, since heaven was heaven, and the 
earth began to have his being. And enquiring the cause thereof, 
Reason, one of the heavenly Ushers, told me, that it was to con- 
gratulate the coming of your most excellent Majesty into this 
country. In very deed to confess a truth, I might have perceived 
no less by sundry manifest tokens here on earth ; for even here 
in my charge, I might see the trees nourish in more then ordinary 
bravery, the grass grow greener than it was wont to do, and the 
deer went tripping (though against their death) in extreme 
delicacy and delight. Well, to speak of that I saw in heaven, 
every god and goddess made all preparations possible to present 
your Majesty with some acceptable gift, thereby to declare the 
exceeding joy which they conceived in your presence. And I, 
poor rural god, which am but seldom called amongst them, and 
then also but slenderly countenanced, yet for my great good will 
towards your Majesty no way inferior to the proudest god of them 
all, came down again with a flea in mine ear, and began to beat 
my brains for some device of some present, which might both 
bewray the depth of mine affections, and also be worthy for so 
excellent a Princess to receive. But whiles I went so amusing 
with myself, many, yea, too many days, I found by due experience 
that this proverb was all too true, omnis mora trahit periculum. 
For whiles I studied to achieve the height of my desires ; behold, 
I was the second time summoned to appear in heaven. What 
said I ? Heaven ? no, no, most comely Queen, for when I came 
there, heaven was not heaven, it was rather a very hell. There 
was nothing but weeping and wailing, crying and howling, dole, 
desperation, mourning, and moan. All which I perceived also 
here on earth before I went up, for of a truth (most noble 
Princess) not only the skies scowled, the winds raged, the waves 
roared and tossed, but also the fishes in the waters turned up 
their bellies, the deer in the woods went drooping, the grass was 
weary of growing, the trees shook off their leaves, and all the 
beasts of the forest stood amazed. 

" ' The which sudden change I plainly perceived to be, for that 
they understood above, that your Majesty would shortly (and too 
speedily) depart out of this country, wherein the heavens have 
happily placed you, and the whole earth earnestly desireth to 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 207 

keep you. Surely (Gracious Queen) I suppose that this late 
alteration in the skies hath seemed unto your judgment drops of 
rain in accustomed manner. But, if your Highness will believe 
me, it was nothing else but the very flowing tears of the gods, 
who melted into moan for your hasty departure. 

" ' Well, because we rural gods are bound patiently to abide 
the censure of the celestial bench, I thought meet to hearken 
what they would determine, and for a final conclusion it was 
generally determined, that some convenient messenger should be 
dispatched with all expedition possible, as well to beseech your 
Majesty that you would here remain, as also further to present 
you with the proffer of any such commodities and delights, as 
might draw your full consent to continue here for their contenta- 
tion, and the general comfort of men.' 

"Here her Majesty stayed her horse to favour Sylvanus, fearing 
lest he should be driven out of breath by following her horse so 
fast. "But Sylvanus humbly besought her Highness to go on, 
declaring that if his rude speech did not offend her, he could 
continue this tale to be twenty miles long. And therewithal 
protested that he had rather be her Majesty's footman on earth, 
than a god on horseback in heaven, proceeding as folio weth : 

" ' Now to return to my purpose (most excellent Queen) when 
I had heard their deliberation, and called unto mind that sundry 
realms and provinces had come to utter subversion by over great 
trust given to Ambassadors, I (being thoroughly tickled with a 
restless desire) thought good to plead in person ; for I will tell 
your Majesty one strange property that I have, there are few or 
none which know my mind so well as myself, neither are there 
many which can tell mine own tale better than I myself can do. 
And therefore I have continually awaited these three days, to 
espy when your Majesty would (in accustomed manner) come on 
hunting this way. 

" ' And being now arrived most happily into the port of my 
desires, I will presume to beseech most humbly, and to entreat 
most earnestly, that your Highness have good regard to the 
general desire of the gods, together with the humble petitions of 
your most loyal and deeply affectionate servants. 

" ' And for my poor part, in full token of my dutiful meaning, 
I here present you the store of my charge, undertaking that the 
deer shall be daily doubled for your delight in chase. Further- 
more I will entreat Dame Flora to make it continually spring 



208 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

here with stores of redolent and fragrant flowers. Ceres shall be 
compelled to yield your majesty a competent provision, and 
Bacchus shall be sued unto for the first fruits of his vineyards. 
To be short, peerless Princess, you shall have all things that 
may possibly be gotten for the furtherance of your delights. 
And I shall be most glad and triumphant, if I may place my 
godhead in your service perpetually. This tedious tale, O 
comely Queen, I began with a bashful boldness, I have continued 
in base eloquence, and I cannot better knit it up, than with 
homely humility, referring the consideration of these my simple 
words, unto the deep discretion of your Princely will. And now 
I will, by your Majesty's leave, turn my discourse into the 
rehearsal of strange and pitiful adventures. 

" * So it is, good gracious Lady, that Diana passeth often-times 
through this forest with a stately train of gallant and beautiful 
nymphs. 

" ' Amongst whom there is one surpassing all the rest for 
singular gifts and graces : some call her Zabeta, some other have 
named her Ahtebasile, some Completa, and some Complacida : 
whatsoever her name be, I will stand upon it. But (as I have 
said) her rare gifts have drawn the most noble and worthy per- 
sonages in the whole world to sue unto her for grace. 

" ' All which she hath so rigorously repulsed, or rather (to speak 
plain English) so obstinately and cruelly rejected, that I sigh to 
think of some of their mishaps. I allow and commend her justice 
towards some others, and yet the tears stand in mine eyes (yea 
and my tongue trembleth and faltereth in my mouth) when I 
begin to declare the distresses wherein some of them do presently 
remain. I could tell your Highness of sundry famous and worthy 
persons, whom she hath turned and converted into most monstrous 
shapes and proportions. As some into fishes, some others into 
fowls, and some into huge stony rocks and great mountains : 
but because divers of her most earnest and faithful followers 
(as also some sycophants) have been converted into sundry of 
these plants, whereof I have charge, I will shew unto your 
Majesty so many of them as are in sight in these places where 
you pass. 

" ' Behold, gracious Lady, this old oak, the same was many 
years a faithful follower and trusty servant of hers, named Con- 
stancy, whom, when she could by none other means overthrow, 
considering that no change could creep into his thoughts, nor any 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 209 

trouble of passions and perplexities could turn his resolute mind, 
at length she caused him, as I say, to be converted into this oak, 
a strange and cruel metamorphosis. But yet the heavens have 
thus far forth favoured and rewarded his long continued service, 
that as in life he was unmovable, even so now all the vehement 
blasts of the most raging winds cannot once move his rocky body 
from his rooted place and abiding. But to countervail this cruelty 
with a shew of justice, she converted his contrary, Inconstancy, 
into yonder poplar, whose leaves move and shake with the least 
breath or blast. 

"'As also she dressed Vain Glory in his right colours, con- 
verting him into this ash-tree, which is the first of my plants that 
buddeth, and the first likewise that casteth leaf. For believe 
me, most excellent Princess, Vain Glory may well begin hastily, 
but seldom continueth long. 

" ' Again she hath well requited that busy elf, Contention, whom 
she turned into this bramble-brier, the which, as your Majesty 
may well see, doth even yet catch and snatch at your garments, 
and every other thing that passeth by it. And as for that 
wicked wretch Ambition, she did by good right condemn him into 
this branch of ivy, the which can never climb on high, nor flourish 
without the help of some other plant or tree, and yet commonly 
what tree soever it raiseth by, it never leaveth to wind about it, 
and straitly to enfold it, until it hath smouldered and killed it. 
And by your leave, good Queen, such is the unthankful nature of 
cankered ambitious minds, that commonly they malign them by 
whom they have risen, and never cease until they have brought 
them to confusion. "Well, notwithstanding these examples of 
justice, I will now rehearse unto your Majesty such a strange and 
cruel metamorphosis as I think must needs move your noble 
mind unto compassion. There were two sworn brethren which 
long time served her, called Deep-desire and Due-desert, and 
although it be very hard to part these two in sunder, yet it is 
said that she did long since convert Due-desert into yonder same 
laurel-tree. The which may very well be so, considering the 
etymology of his name, for we see that the laurel-branch is a 
token of triumph in all trophies, and given as a reward to all 
victors, a dignity for all degrees, consecrated and dedicated to 
Apollo and the Muses as a worthy flower, leaf, or branch, for their 
due deserts. Of him I will hold no longer discourse, because he 
was metamorphosed before my time ; for your Majesty must un- 

14 



2 10 K EN I LWORTH CASTLE. 

derstand that I have not long held this charge, neither do I mean 
long to continue in it ; but rather most gladly to follow your 
Highness wheresoever you shall become. 

" * But to speak of Deep-desire, (that wretch of worthies, and 
yet the worthiest that ever was condemned to wretched estate,) 
he was such an one as neither any delay could daunt him ; no 
disgrace could abate his passions ; no time could tire him ; no 
water quench his flames ; nor death itself could amaze him with 
terror. 

" ' And yet this strange star, this courteous cruel, and yet the 
crudest courteous that ever was, this Ahtehasile, Zabeta, or by 
what name soever it shall please your Majesty to remember her, 
did never cease to use imprecation, invocation, conjuration, and 
means possible, until she had caused him to be turned into this 
holly -bush, and as he was in this life and world continually full of 
compunctions, so is he now furnished on every side with sharp 
pricking leaves, to prove the restless pricks of his privy thoughts. 
Marry, there are two kinds of holly, that is to say, he holly, and 
she holly. Now some will say, that she holly hath no pricks, but 
thereof I intermeddle not.' 

" At these words her Majesty came by a closer arbour, made 
all of holly ; and while Bylvanus pointed to the same, the principal 
bush shaked. For therein were placed both strange music, and 
one who was there appointed to represent Deep-desire. Sylvanus, 
perceiving the bush to shake, continued thus : 

" ' Behold, most gracious Queen, this holly-bush doth tremble 
at your presence, and therefore I believe that Deep-desire hath 
gotten leave of the gods to speak unto your excellent Majesty in 
their behalf, for I myself was present in the council-chamber of 
heaven, when Desire was thought a meet messenger to be sent 
from that convocation unto your Majesty as ambassador; and 
give ear, good Queen, methinks I hear his voice.' 

" Herewith Deep-desire spake out of the holly-bush as fol- 
io weth : — 

" Stat, stay your hasty steps, 

O Queen without compare ; 
And hear him talk, whose trusty tongue 

consumed is with care : 
I am that wretch Desire, 

whom neither death could daunt, 
Nor dole decay, nor dread delay, 

nor feigned cheer enchant. 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 211 

Whom neither care could quench, 

nor fancy force to change ; 
And therefore turn'd into this tree, 

which sight, percase, seems strange. 
But when the gods of heaven, 

and goddesses withall, 
Both gods of fields and forest gods, 

yea, satyrs, nymphs, and all, 
Determined a dole, 

by course of free consent : 
With wailing words and mourning notes, 

your parting to lament. 
Then thought they meet to choose 

me, silly wretch, Desire, 
To tell a tale that might bewray 

as much as they require. 
And hence proceeds, Queen, 

that from this holly-tree 
Your learned ears may hear him speak, 

whom yet you cannot see, 
But, Queen, believe me now, 

although I do not swear; 
Was never grief, as I could guess, 

which set their hearts so near. 
As when they heard the news, 

that you, royal Queen, 
Would part from hence ; and that to prove 

it may full well be seen. 
For mark what tears they shed 

these five days past and gone : 
It was no rain, of honesty, 

it was great floods of moan. 
As first Diana wept 

such brinish bitter tears ; 
That all her nymphs did doubt her death, 

her face the sign yet bears. 
Dame Flora fell on ground, 

and bruis'd her woeful breast : 
Yea, Pan did break his oaten pipes ; 

Silvanus and the rest, 
Which walk amid these woods, 

for grief did roar and cry ; 
And Jove, to shew what moan he made 

with thund'riug crack'd the sky. 
O Queen, worthy Queen, 

within these holts and hills, 
Were never heard such grievous groans, 

nor seen such woeful wills. 



212 KEN 1L WORTH CASTLE. 

But since they have decreed, 

that I poor wretch, Desire, 
In their behalf shall make their moan, 
and comfort thns require : 
Vouchsafe, O comely Queen, 

yet longer to remain j 
Or still to dwell amongst us here : 

O Queen, command again 
This castle and the knight, 

which keeps the same for you ; 
These woods, these waves, these fowls, these fishes> 

these deer which are your due : 
Live here, good Queen, live here, 

you are amongst your friends : 
Their comfort comes when you approach, 

and when you part, it ends. 
What fruits this soil may serve, 

thereof you may be sure : 
Dame Ceres and Dame Flora both 

will with you still endure, 
Diana would be glad 

to meet you in the chase : 
Sylvanus and the forest-gods 

would follow you apace. 
Yea, Pan would pipe his part, 

such dances as he can : 
Or else Apollo music make, 

and Mars would be your man. 
And to be short, as much 

as gods and men may do ; 
So much your Highness here may find, 

with faith and favour too. 
But if your noble mind, 

resolved by decree, 
Be not content, by me Desire, 

persuaded for to be, 
Then bend your willing ears 

unto my willing note, 
And hear what song the gods themselves 

have taught me now by rote. 
Give ear, good gracious Queen, 

and so you shall perceive 
That gods in heaven, and men on earth, 

are loth such Queens to leave. 

" Herewith the concert of music sounded, and Deep-desire san| 
this song : 



KENJLWORTH CASTLE. 213 

"Come, Muses, come and help me to lament, 
Come, woods, come waves, come hills, come doleful dales, 
Since life and death are both against me bent, 
Come gods, come men, bear witness of my bales. 

heavenly nymphs, come help my heavy heart, 
With sighs to see Dame Pleasure thus depart. 

** If death or dole could daunt a deep desire, 

If privy pangs could counterpoise my plaint : 
If tract of time, a true intent could tire, 

Or cramps of care, a constant mind could taint : 
Oh then might I at will here live and serve ; 
Although my deeds did more delight deserve. 
** But out, alas, no gripes of grief suffice 

To break in twain this harmless heart of mine, 
For though delight be banish'd from mine eyes, 
Yet lives Desire, whom pains can never pine. 
Oh strange effects ! I live which seem to die, 
Yet die to see my dear delight go by. 
" Then farewell, sweet, for whom I taste such sour, 
Farewell, delight, for whom I dwell in dole : 
Free will, farewell, farewell my fancy's flower, 
Farewell, content, whom cruel cares control. 
Oh farewell life, delightful death, farewell, 

1 die in heaven, yet live in darksome hell. 

** This song being ended, the music ceased, and Sylvanus con- 
cluded thus : 

" ' Most gracious Queen, as it should but evil have beseemed a 
god to be found fraudulent or deceitful in his speech : so have I 
neither recounted nor foretold any thing unto your Majesty, but 
that which you have now found true by experience, and because 
the case is very lamentable, in the conversion of Deep-desire, as 
also because they know that your Majesty is so highly favoured 
of the gods, that they will not deny you any reasonable request. 
Therefore I do humbly crave in his behalf, that you would either 
be a suitor for him unto the heavenly powers, or else but only to 
give your gracious consent that he may be restored to his pristin- 
ate estate. "Whereat your Highness may be assured that heaven 
will smile, the earth will quake, men will clap their hands, and I 
will always continue an humble beseecher for the nourishing- 
estate of your Eoyal Person. 

Whom Grod now and ever preserve, to his good pleasure and 

our great comfort. Amen. 

Tarn Marti, qumn Mer curio.' " 



214 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



LORD OF MISRULE. 1 

" Warton, in bis History of English Poetry, vol. II. sect, xxxiv. p. 293, 
states that this was George Ferrers, whom Holingshed mentions as Lord 
of Misrule in the time of King Edw. VI.; but Wood in his AtJience 
Oxoniensis, when speaking of this eminent author, never mentions bis 
having held such an office ; probably supposing that it would be derogatory 
to his character, both as a scholar and a poet. Puttenham calls him by the 
name of ' Maister Edward Ferrys,' and this has created a supposition that 
these were two different persons, but the character which he has given of that 
author, has nearly identified him to be the same as the George Ferrers already 
mentioned. The latter writer, when speaking of him as a poet of Edward 
the Sixth's reign, says : ' But the principall man in this profession, at the same 
time was Maister Edward Ferrys, a man of no lessse mirth and felicitie that 
way, but of much more skil and magnificence in his meeter, and therefore 
wrate for the most part to the Stage in Tragedie, and sometimes in Comedie 
or Enterlude, wherein he gave the King so much good recreation, as he had 
thereby many good rewardes.' — Lib. I, ch. xxxi, p. 49, edit. 1589. Soon after, 
the same author again observes, 'for Tragedie the Lord Buckhurst and 
maister Edward Ferrys, for such doinges as I have sene of theirs, deserve the 
highest price.' — Ibid., p. 51. These passages are supposed by Warton sufficieut 
to prove that Puttenham mistook the name of Edward for George, especially 
when joined to the fact, that ' no plays of an Edward Ferrers, or Ferrys, 
which is the same, are now known to exist, nor are mentioned by any writer of 
the times which are now concerned.' Notwithstanding this conclusion, Wood, 
in his AtJience, mentions an Edward Ferrers, though his account of him is 
doubtful, short, and indefinite; as he professes himself unable to say where he 
was born, or to name the College in Oxford at which he was educated. The 
only particulars, therefore, which can be collected from Wood, are, that 
Edward Ferrers was of the family of Ferrers, of Baldesley Clinton, in War- 
wickshire ; that he continued at Oxford University several years, ' being then 
in much esteem for his poetry ;' that about the time of his leaving College he 
wrote ' several Tragedies, Comedies, or Enterludes,' and that he 'was in great 
renown about 1564,' when he supposes him to have died, and to have been buried 
at Baldesley Clinton, leaving a son Henry. But although this dispute must 
perhaps long remain undecided, yet it is certain, that George Ferrers was the 
Lord of Mis-rule alluded to in the text ; and of him, and his office, it will be 
interesting to give as full an account, as the materials now to be obtained 
will permit. 

" George Ferrers, according to all his biographers, was born at St. Albans, 
in Hertfordshire, and received a part of his education at Oxford. After 
quitting College, he entered himself of Lincoln's Inn, where he became 



1 Referred to in note at page 181 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 215 

a Barrister; and as Wood remarks, was as 'eminent for the law, as 
before he was for his poetry, having been as much celebrated for it by 
the learned of his time, as any.' While studying the jurisprudence of 
England, Ferrers appears to have published his first work, entitled, 'The 
Great Charter, called in Latyn, Magna Carta, with diuers olde statutes :' 
no date. In the second edition of this work, the colophon declares the author's 
name in the following terms : 'Thus endeth the booke called Magna Carta, 
translated oute of Latyn and Frenshe into Englishe, by George Ferrerz. 
Imprynted at London, in Paules church -yerde, at the signe of the May dens 
head, by Thomas Petyt. m.d.xlii.' Mr. Haslewood, the unwearied and excellent 
illustrator of the Poetry and Biography of Queen Elizabeth's reign, has said in 
his introduction to the recent reprint of the ' Mirror for Magistrates,' that 
Ferrers ' was a polished courtier, and esteemed favourite with Henry the VIII. 
although that capricious monarch, for some offence, the nature of which has 
not yet been discovered, committed him to prison in 1542.' For the same King 
he also served in the army, and Wood states, w T as engaged in several battles ; 
but in the year above mentioned he appears to have left the wars, as at that 
time he was returned Member of Parliament for Plymouth. Henry VIII. 
appears to have entertained a grateful sense of the services of Ferrers ; since, 
iu the will of that Sovereign, in 1516-7, his name appears as a Legatee, for 
one hundred marks, in a list with many others, who were to receive their 
bequests, as the instrument states, ' for the special love and favour that we 
bear to our trusty counsailours and others our said servaunts, hereafter fol- 
lowing.' It is remarkable, that in this w r ill there is not any christian name 
given to Ferrers. In the reign of Edward VI. Ferrers was employed in the 
suite of the Duke of Somerset, Protector to the King ; and he was also one of 
the Commissioners in the Army, in the expedition to Scotland. In 1552, after 
the condemnation of the Duke of Somerset, the populace were greatly irritated 
against the Duke of Northumberland, whom they conceived to be the cause of 
it ; and the young King himself was considerably grieved at the unfortunate fate 
of his uncle. On this account, as well to amuse the commonalty, as to give 
pleasure to the King, ' it w r as deuised,' says Holingshed, ' that the feast of 
Christs natiuitie, commonlie called Christmasse, then at hand, should be 
solemnlie kept at Greenwich, with open houshold, and franke resort to Court, 
(which is called keeping of the hall) what time of old ordinarie course there 
is alwaise one appointed to make sport in the court, called commonlie Lord 
of Mis-rule; whose office is not unknown to such as haue beene brought vp 
in noblemen's houses, and among great house-keepers, which vse liberall 
feasting in that season. There was therfore by order of the councell, a wise 
gentleman, and learned, named George Ferrers, appointed to that office for 
this yeare; who, being of better credit and estimation than comonlie his 
predecessors had beene before, receiued all his commissions and warrants by 
the name of the Maister of the King's pastimes. Which gentleman so well 
supplied his office, both in shew of sundrie sights and deuices of rare 
inventions, and in act of diuerse interludes, and matters of pastime plaied 
by persons, as not onlie satisfied the common sort, but also were verie well 
liked and allowed by the councell, and other of skill in the like pastimes ; 



216 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

but best of all by the young King himselfe, as appeered by his princelie 
liberalise in rewarding that service/ — Chronicle of JEng., vol. Ill, p. 1067* 
This office, which George Ferrers so ably filled, had too often been executed 
by those who possessed neither the wit nor the genius it required ; but, as 
will be hereafter shewn in its history, persons of high talent were originally 
selected to perform the somewhat difficult duties of a Lord of Mis-rule. On 
the 30th of November, 1552, Ferrers received 1001. for the charges of his office ; 
and afterwards the Lord Mayor, who probably had been at the royal festival, en- 
tertained him in London. Stowe, in his ' Annals,' thus relates the circumstances 
of his visit and rewards. * The King kept his Christmasse with open houshold at 
Greenwich, George Ferrers, Gentleman of Lincolnes Inne, being Lord of the 
merry disports all the 12 dayes, who so pleasantly and wisely behaued himselfe, 
that the King had great delight in his pastimes. On Monday, the fourth of 
January, the said Lord of merry disports came by water to London, and landed 
at the Tower-wharfe, entered the Tower, and then rode through the Tower- 
streete, where he was receiued by Sergeant Vawce, Lord of Mis-rule to John 
Mainard, one of the Sheriffes of London, and so conducted through the Citie 
with a great company of young Lords and Gentlemen, to the house of Sir 
George Barne, Lord Maior; where he, with the chiefe off his company dined, 
and after had a great banquet ; and, at his departure, the Lord Maior gave 
him a standing cup, with a couer of silver and guilt, of the value of ten pound, 
for a reward ; and also set a hogshead of Wine, and a Barrell of Beere at his 
gate, for his traine that followed him ; the residue of his Gentlemen and 
Seruants dined at other Aldermen's houses, and with the Sheriffes, and so 
departed to the Tower-wharfe againe, and to the Court by water, to the great 
commendation of the Maior and Aldermen, and highly accepted of the King 
and Councell.' — Annals, edit. 1631, fol., p. 608. In 1559, Ferrers again 
appeared as a poet in the celebrated ' Mirror for Magistrates,' in which 
he wrote, in conjunction with several of the best versifiers and most learned 
men of that period; and as the history of this book is a portion of his own life, 
it will not be irrelevant to give it so far as Ferrers was concerned. 

"Richard Baldwyne, who may be considered as the first of that party 
which composed the Mirror for Magistrates, was a graduate of Oxford and an 
ecclesiastic ; and he, in his Preface to the work, states, that Thomas Marshe, 
the printer, had invited him to take a share in the composition of a continua- 
tion of Lydgate's ' Fall of Princes ;' in which the examples should be selected 
from English history. Baldwyne, however, was unwilling to engage in a work 
so laborious without assistance ; but Marshe soon after provided ' divers 
learned men, whose manye giftes nede fewe prayses, — to take upon them parte 
of the travayle.' These met together to the number of seven, of whom George 
Ferrers was one, and who, after they had agreed upon the plan to be pursued, 
wrote the first tale, entitled, the Fall of Robert Tresilian, Chiefe Justice of 
England. Besides this, Ferrers wrote five other poems, which were, on the 
misfortunes of Thomas, of Woodstock; King Richard the Second; Eleanor 
Cobham ; Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester ; and Edmund, Duke of Somerset ; 
and to the above, Wood adds other stories which he does not name. Most of 
these were scattered through the different editions of the Mirror for Magis- 
trates, from 1559, till 1578. Of that published in the latter year, Mr. Hasle- 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 217 

wood is inclined to think Ferrers was the Editor, since it contains many exclu- 
sive alterations, and his two legends of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. 
In 1575, George Ferrers seems to have been employed by the Earl of Leicester, 
as one of the authors for the entertainment to be given to the Queen ; at 
which time he appears still to have been in the Office of Lord of Mis-rule. 
In the elegant work, entitled, ' Kenilworth Illustrated,' William Hamper, 
Esq., of Birmingham, whose very extensive antiquarian learning and collec- 
tions are so well known to the literary world, has printed an original MS. of 
Masques, which was long in the possession of Henry Ferrers, Esq., of Bad- 
desley Clinton, in Warwickshire, who was, most probably, a very near relative 
of George. There is little doubt that they were the production of the courtly 
Master of Mis-rule ; and that the first part, which is called ' A Cartell for a 
Challeng,' was exhibited in the Tilt-yard at Westminster, on November 17th, 
1590; when Sir Henry Lee, the Queen's Champion, resigned the office to 
George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland. It is supposed that the remainder was 
presented on a progress, probably when the Queen visited Sir Henry Lee, at 
Quarendon, in Buckinghamshire. Only a small portion of this interesting 
composition has been printed before. Early in 1579, George Ferrers is sup- 
posed to have died at Flamstead in Hertfordshire ; as, on the 18th of May in 
that year, administration was granted on his effects. Having thus recorded 
what is known of the life of Ferrers, the history and nature of his office are 
next to be considered. 

a The title and the duties of a Lord of Mis-rule appear in England to have 
had a classical origin ; since Warton, in his Hist, of Engl. Poetry, vol. II, 
sect, xvi, p. 378, mentions, that ' in an original draught of the Statutes of 
Trinity College, at Cambridge, founded in 1546, one of the Chapters is en- 
titled, De Pr&fecto Ludorum qui Imperator dicitur, under whose direction 
and authority, Latin Comedies and Tragedies are to be exhibited in the hall at 
Christmas. With regard to the peculiar business and office of Imperator,' 
continues the same writer, ' it is ordered, that one of the Masters of Arts shall 
be placed over the juniors, every Christmas, for the regulation of their games 
and diversions at that season of festivity. At the same time, he is to govern 
the whole society in the hall and chapel, as a republic committed to his special 
charge, by a set of laws which he is to frame in Latin and Greek verse. His 
sovereignty is to last during the twelve days of Christmas ; and he is to exer- 
cise the same power on Candlemas-day." His fee amounts to forty shillings. 
Nor was this peculiar to the University of Cambridge ; for Wood, in his 
Athena Oxoniensis, speaks of a similar custom being used in several of the 
Colleges at Oxford, especially at St. John's and Merton. The Inns of Court 
also celebrated their Christmas sports under the direction of a Revel Master, 
who frequently received substantial honours and rewards. Warton mentions, 
that a Christmas Prince, elected by the society of the Middle Temple, in 1635, 
was attended by a Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, eight Officers with white 
staves, a band of Gentlemen Pensioners, and two Chaplains, who preached 
before him on the Sunday preceding Christmas-day. This holiday Sovereign 
also dined in the hall and chamber, under a cloth of estate ; while his feasts 
were supplied with venison by Lord Holland, and by the Lord Mayor and 
Sheriffs of London with wine. After his reign was over, King James I, 



218 K EN IL WORTH CASTLE. 

knighted him at Whitehall. — The same system of appointing a Ruler of 
Pastimes seems to have heen common through most ranks ; for Stow observes, 
that ' the like had ye in the house of every Nobleman of honour or good wor- 
ship, were he spiritual or temporal. The Mayor of London, and either of the 
Sheriffs, had their several Lords of Mis-rule, ever contending, without quarrel 
or offence, who should make the rarest pastime to delight the beholders. 
These Lords, beginning their rule at Allhallond-Eve, continued the same till 
the morrow after the Feast of Purification, commonly called Candlemas- day : 
in which space there were fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and mummeries, 
with playing at cards for counters, nayles, and points in every house, more for 
pastime than for gaine.' — Strype's Edit, of Stowe, Book I, p. 252. But the 
best account of the fees, duties, dress, and general use of the Lord of Mis- 
rule, is given by the most violent enemy of all sports that probably ever ex- 
isted, namely, Philip Stubbs, the vehement author of the 'Anatomie of 
Abuses.' This singular writer, while he rails most immoderately at all the 
fashions and follies of his age, condemning them and their votaries to certain 
perdition, has nevertheless contrived most minutely to record them for the 
benefit of posterity ; and frequently, where less scrupulous writers are deficient 
in their intelligence, their imperfections may be amply supplied by a reference 
to his pious invectives. Speaking of the Lord of Mis-rule, Stubbs writes thus : 
' Firste all the wilde heades of the parishe, conventynge together, chuse them 
a grand Capitaine (of mischeef), whom they innoble with the title of my Lorde 
of Misserule, and hym they crown with great solemnitie, and adopt for their 
kyng. This kyng anoynted, chuseth forthe twentie, fourtie, threescore, or a 
hundred lustie guttes like to hymself, to waite uppon his lordely majestie, and 
to guarde his noble persone. Then every one of these his menne he investeth 
with his liveries, of greene, yellowe, or some other light wanton colour. And 
as though that were not (baudie) gaudy enough, I should saie, they bedecke 
themselves with scarffes, ribons, and laces, hanged all over with golde rynges, 
precious stones, and other jewelles : this doen, they tye about either 
legge, twentie or fourtie belles, with rich hande-kercheefes in their handes, 
and sometymes laied acrosse over their shoulders and neckes, borrowed 
for the moste parte of their pretie Mopsies and loovyng Bessies, for bus- 
syng them in the darcke. Thus thinges sette in order, they have their 
hobby horses, 1 dragons, and other antiques, together with their baudie 
Pipers, and thunderyng Drommers, to strike up the Deville's dance 2 withall, 
then marche these heathen companies towardes the Churche and Churche- 
Yarde ; their Pipers pipyng, Drommers thonderyng, their stumppes dauncyng, 
their belles jynglyng, their handkerchefes swyngyng about their heades like 



1 " These were formed with the resemblance of a horse's head and tail, 
having a light wooden frame to be attached to the body of the person who 
performed the hobby-horse. The trappings and footcloth, which were often 
very splendid, reached to the ground, and so concealed the actor's feet, while 
lie pranced and curvetted like a real horse. 

2 " The Morris Dance. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 219 

madmen, their Hobbie horses and other monsters skyrmishyng amongst the 
throng : and in this sorte they goe to the Churche, (though the Minister bee 
at Praier or Preachyng) dauncyng and swingyng their handkercheefes over 
their heades in the churche, like Devilles incarnate, withe suche a confused 
noise, that no man can heare his owne voice. Then the foolishe people, they 
looke, they stare, they laugh, they fleere, and mount upon formes and pewes, 
to see these goodly pageauntes, solemnised in this sort. Then after this, 
aboute the Churche they goe againe and againe, and so forthe into the 
Churche-Yarde, where they have commonly their Sommer haules, their Bowers, 
Arbours, and Banquettyng houses set up, wherein they feaste, banquet, and 
daunce all that daie, and (peradventure) all night too. And thus these ter- 
testriall furies spend their Sabbaoth daie. Then for the further innoblyng of 
this honourable Lurdane 1 (Lorde, I should saye), they have also certaine 
papers, wherein is paynted some bablerie or other, of Imagerie worke, and 
these tbey call my Lord of Misrule's badges; these thei giue to every one that 
will geve money for them, to maintaine them in this their heathenrie, devilrie, 
whoredom e, drunkennesse, pride, and what not. And who will not shew hiin- 
selfe buxonie 2 to them, and give them money for these the Deville's Cogni- 
zaunces, they shall be mocked, and flouted at shamefully. And so assotted are 
some, that they not onely give them money, to maintaine their abhomination 
withall, but also weare their badges and cognizaunces in their hattes or 
cappes, openlye. Another sort of fantasticall fooles, bring to these Helhoundes 
(the Lorde of Mis-rule and his complices) some Bread, some goode Ale, 
some newe cheese, some olde cheese, some Custardes, some Cakes, some 
Flaunes, 3 some Tartes, some Creame, some Meate, some one thing, some 
another ; but if they knewe that as often as they bring any to the main- 
tenaunce of these execrable pastymes, they offer sacrifice to the Devill and 
Sathanas, they would repent, and withdrawe their haundes, which God graunt 
they maie.' — Edit. 1585, Svo. fol. 92. b. Such was a Lord of Mis-rule, whose 
office, however, branched out into other circumstances than those now detailed, 
but his duties are all equally at an end, and the name only remembered. The 
puritans were the principal cause of this overthrow ; as in the time of James I. 
the custom was preached against as a relic of the Saturnalian games, deduced 
from the pagan ritual." 

1 " A Blockhead. — Old French, Lourdain. 

2 " Compliant, lively, brisk. — Saxon, Bucf um. 

3 "According to Phillips, this was a species of cake, made with flour, eggs, 
butter, and sugar." 



End of Gtascoigne's Princely Pleasures. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 221 



Having now completed the account of the splendid enter- 
tainment given by the Earl to Queen Elizabeth, as described 
in Laneham's Letter and in Gascoigne's Princely Pleasures, 
we will conclude the history of Kenilworth Castle by the 
insertion of the correspondence, hitherto (we believe) un- 
published, which occurred after the death of the Earl of 
Leicester, 1 in reference to Kenilworth Castle, then in posses- 
sion of Sir Robert Dudley, the Earl's son. 

" 16th April, 1590. 
"A letter to Sir Fulke Greville, Sir Thomas Lucye, Sir John 
Harrington, and Sir Henry Goodier, Knights, and Thomas 
Leigh, Esq., or to any two of them. 

" "Whereas upon information given by you (Sir John Harrington) 
of a forcible entry made by certain the servants of Sir Christopher 
Blount, Knight, and others in the behalf of the Countess of 
Leicester, his lady, upon the Castle of Kenilworth, being then in 
the sole and quiet possession of Mr. Robert Dudley ; We, the Lord 
Chancellor and the Lord Admiral and others, put in trust in the 
behalf of the young gentleman ; doubting some further like dis- 
orderly proceedings, directed our letters unto you (Sir John) for 
the preservation of the gentleman's possession, and repressing of 
such like further attempts against him, if any should be offered, 
together with other directions by you to be given, as well to the 
tenants concerning the keeping of Courts, and payment of the 
rents, as also to the Ranger and Keeper of the Chase and Park 
there, for the preserving of their several charges, as by the same 
letters more at large may appear. Since which time, notwith- 
standing Sir Christopher Blount (as we are advertised by letters 
from our very good Lord, the Earl of Huntingdon, dated the 
11th of this present), contrary to a former order and agreement 
made before you the Justices, that were there present for the 
peaceable keeping of a joint possession by an equal number on 
either part, hath with like force attempted to remove Captain 
Jeames and others, who held the possession for the late Earl of 

1 The Earl died on the 4th of September, 1588, at Cornbury, in Oxfordshire, 
under great suspicion that he was poisoned by, or at the instigation of, Lettice, 
Countess of Leicester. See Statement at pp. 84-5. 



222 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Warwick in his life time, and likewise for Mr. Dudley ; by means 
whereof great mischief might and was likely to have grown, if 
the same had not been by the good advice and persuasion of the 
said Earl of Huntingdon wisely stayed and prevented. We, being 
thus informed of these disorders, and moved on the behalf of the 
said Mr. Dudley, for the redressing of this violent and unlawful 
course taken against him, as well to prevent the inconveniences 
which may therefore ensue, as also for the lawful preservation of 
his right, have thought good to address these our letters unto 
you in that behalf, praying and requiring you by authority hereof, 
as Justices of the Peace, not only to see that present force (if 
any be there still maintained), with the assistance of the Sheriff 
of that County, forthwith removed, and any like forcible or 
unlawful attempts that shall be hereafter moved against the 
gentleman, in like sort repressed according to law ; but also that 
the gentleman's possession may be peaceably maintained by those 
which are or shall be authorised there for him, and the rents 
reserved, the Courts respited, and the game preserved, and all 
duly accomplished according to those former letters unto you 
(Sir John Harrington) directed ; for which purpose you shall, in 
our names, also reiterate the warning given by the said letters, 
as well unto the tenants, as also to the Ranger and Keepers, so 
much as doth particularly concern them. 

" Wherein praying you to use all care and endeavour for the 
preserving both of peace and quietness, and of the gentleman's 
right, we bid you heartily farewell. 

" Prom," &C 1 

" 30th April, 1590. 
" A letter to Sir Falke Greville, Sir Thomas Lucye, Knights, and 
Mr. Thomas Leigh, Esq. 

"We have received your letter written at Kenilworth, the 
21st of this present, whereby you advertise us of your travel 
taken in removing of the forces assembled there together in the 
Castle, of which your proceedings as we deem well, so would we 
better have allowed the same, if you had communicated our last 
letter unto Sir John Harrington, unto whose further advice we 
referred you, having before directed our letters unto him, the 
cause whereof according to our appointment you should have 

1 Privy Council, Reg. Eliz., vol. viii. 



RENILWORTH CASTLE. 223 

followed. Since which time the parties, whom the possession of 
the said Castle concerneth, have agreed amongst themselves, that 
you, Sir Eulke Greville, shall for both parties, sequester the 
profits of the said Castle, reserve the rents, respite the Courts, 
and preserve the game, without any joint possession of the parties, 
until the matter in controversy be fully decided, and to require 
you to set the persons committed to the Gaol at Gloucester 
[at liberty], taking bonds to her Majesty's use, to answer the 
disorders by them committed, if hereafter it be called into 
question." 1 

" At Farley, the 9th September, 1591. 

" A letter to the Sheriff of the County of Warwick. 

" Whereas the late Earl of Leicester, in his lifetime, did com- 
pound with the tenants of Killingworth, 2 concerning the chase 
there, and for that purpose gave them satisfaction by payment of 
divers sums of money to their contentation at that time. For- 
asmuch as we are given to understand that notwithstanding the 
said composition, the tenants have lately threatened and have a 
disposition to enter again upon the same, for the which there 
hath been satisfaction given. These are to require you upon the 
receipt hereof (after you shall have conference with Sir Eulke 
Greville, having charge of the Castle, and of that which apper- 
tained thereunto), that you call all the tenants before you, and 
in her Majesty's name to charge and command them, that they 
forbear in any case to deal therein until the next term, that their 
pretences may be examined, and the cause heard and ordered 
according to justice, and hereof not to fail, as they will answer 
their doings to the contrary, at their perils." 3 

In 1605 (Jas. I.) Sir Robert Dudley had license to travel 
for three years. In 1607 a revocation of that license was 
sought for and sent to him, and he not complying therewith 
commissioners were appointed to take charge of his lands 
on behalf of the King. These commissioners were Sir 
Richard Verney, 4 Edward Boughton, and William Barnes, 

1 Privy Council, Reg. Eliz., vol. viii. 

2 A corruption of Kenil worth, frequently so written at that period. 
:! Privy Council, Reg. Eliz., vol. ix. 

4 The ' Young Varney,' ward of the Earl of Leycester, and brought up by 
him. (See ' Letters to Lord Burghley,' pp. 92, 93.) 



224 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

reference to whom will be found in the following corre- 
spondence. 

[About March'], 1605. 

" His Highness' directions about Kenilworth." 

" A memorial of such things as are to be done at Kenilworth 
by Sir Thomas Challoner. 

" In March next you shall go to Kenilworth and take with you 
the Officers of the works, who shall survey the castle, to inform 
themselves what reparation is needful, and what charges requisite . 

" The garden shall be new planted with such herbs and trees as 
are green, winter and summer, and let the conduit and laver be 
repaired. Consider of the bridge that goes over the lake how it 
may be mended with saving most of the old timber. 

" And if it may be, erect the heronry 1 again, and out of a nook 
of the lake to make an island for mews and other fowl to breed irj. 

" Cause the river to be stored with trout, and scours to be made 
for them, and from your own pond send three or four thousand 
carps to put into the lake. 

" Also you shall make two large flat-bottomed boats, to fish the 
pool, and to help the hounds when the stag is at the soil. 

" Take a particular view of the chase and old park, of such 
paling as is necessary to enclose them into one ground, and choose 
the driest soil to place stacks of hay for the deer, and make such 
divisions, with rails, as shall be most necessary. 

" About Bestbige's Lodge in the old park, choose a dry plot to 
be railed in, to keep elk, rein-deer and bison deer, and other strange 
beasts. 

" In convenient places, make fair and easy standings, and plant 
rows of trees and tufts such as are at ' Nonesuch,' and procure out 
of Italy and Germany, green oaks, pine trees, and fir trees. 

" Let the smaller pools be scoured and stored for the provision 
of the house, and a large net to be made to fish the lake. 

" Survey the woods and grounds which are to be compounded 
for with the Countess at Leicester, and consider whether they be 
worth the money demanded. 

"Also, in convenient places, cause store of apple trees and 

1 Heronry, place for herons to breed. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 225 

pear tres to be planted, which may be had out of "Worcestershire ; 
and plenty of crab trees likewise. 

" In conclusion, be careful to make a full relation of all things 
necessary to increase the game, and appoint such dotard trees to 
be felled for the paling, as may be least missed, and least disgrace 
the ground with their want ; and this do with speed, that the 
King 1 may see it at his next progress to Rockingham. 2 

The Surveyors appointed to value Kenilworth, to the Lords of 
the Council. 

Kenilworth, 10 Sept., 1609. 
" May it please your good Lordships, 

" After great labor and much time spent in surveying the 
castle and manor of Kenilworth, with Leeke, Wooton and Hill, 
members thereof, and also the manor and parks of Eudfen, finding 
ourselves enabled thereby to make some brief estimate thereof, 
albeit time will not afford us as yet to make up the same survey 
at large, to be returned with our commission, we hold it our duties 
in meantime to present unto your Lordships the same, our esti- 
mate, viz. : 

" The castle and manor of Kenilworth. 

" The site of the castle containeth within the walls 6 acres, 
3 roods, 14 perches, wherein are many and goodly buildings, 
built all with very fair free-stone, hewn and all covered with lead. 

Rents of the freeholders he- "] 

riotable, 3 the best beast J 
Rents of the copyholders ] 

for one, two, or three \ 10 14 

lives J 

Rents of tenants by indenO fat 16 years' purchase,"! 

ture, for one, t\vo,or three f 21 5 0;< deducting a third > 226 13 

lives improved J (_ part of their estates J 

J fat 16 years' purchase,"! 
20 S-J deducting a third I ~, . 
ture, tor years improved I '| part for the present f 
I I estate J 



1 King James was at Rockingham, 9 Aug., 1605 ; and again, 28 July, 1619. 

2 State Paper Office, London. 

3 Hekiotable. Heriot, the best beast (whether horse, ox, or cow) that 
the tenant dies possessed of, due and payable to the Lord of the Manor. A 

15 



£ s. d. 




£ s. d. 


18 12 Oi; 


at 18 years' purchase 


334 16 9 


10 14 5; 


at 50 years' purchase 


535 17 11 



2.26 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



Rents improved of tenants- "1 Qi)h . -. Q 
at-will ) 6L1 L6 b 

The yearly value of the 
chase, as it may be im- 
proved with part of the 
old park, in the occupa- y 264 16 
tion of Francis Phipps, I 
the deer to he taken | 
away J 

The rent of the fishing of 
the pond, containing 3 

acres, improved 

Perquisites of Courts, 40s. 



.1 



20 0;J 



2; }-£612 9*. 10<Z. whereof 
deduct for rents re- 
solute £13 Os. 19d., 1 
and so remaineth }>9590 12 
£599 8s. 3d.,which, 
at 16 years' pur- | 
chase,amounteth to J 
at 12 years' purchase, £24. 



Sum total of rents, £672 0s. 4&d. 
Sum total perquisites thereof, as ahove, £10,926. 

" The timber and woods in Kenilworth. 

" Timber trees 14,138, amounting to 10,088 tons, valued at 85. 
per ton, in toto £6744 sterling. Firewood trees 5041, with the 
underwood and tops of timber trees, amounting to 23,341^- loads, 
valued at 3s. the load, in toto £3736 sterling. 

Sum total of the timber and wood, £10,480. 
Sum total of the purchase of the land, timber, and wood 1 « 91 AaR 2 
in Kenilworth Jfcwi.aub. 

Endorsed, " The Survey of Killing worth," being the report of 
the Surveyors JohnHercy and Henry Adis, addressed to [the Lords 
of the Council] and dated Kenilworth 10th Sept., 1609, of the manor 
and castle of Kenilworth, and also the manor and park of Eudfen. 

Particulars of the valuation are given, and at the end is the 

following : 

Sum total of all the timber and wood in Kenilworth £ s. d. 
andRudfen 14,625 6 



Sum total of the purchase of the lands in Kenilworth 

andRudfen 13,923 9 

Sum total of the purchase of all the said lands, and 

price of all the timber and woods £28,548 15 



Sum total of the purchase of all the land, price of all 
the timber and woods, adding £20,364 8s. for 
the materials of the castle as it now standeth ... 48,913 



3 



Out of which, deducting the rate of workmanship, 
with spoil of the materials in taking it down, 
£10,000. And so remaineth for the whole purchase 38,913 3 

custom first invented by the Danes. Some heriots are due by custom, some 
by tenure, and some by reservation on deeds. 

Heeiots. Not confined to beasts, sometimes a piece of plate or other per- 
sonal property." — Tomlins's Law Diet. 

1 Sic. Orig. 2 State Paper Office, London. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



227 



" It may also please your Lordships to be informed that we find 
here a manor of his Majesty's, called Kenilworth, sundry parcels 
whereof lie intermixed with the lands of this manor now by us 
surveyed, and some of them even in the midst of the chase and 
sundry houses thereof situate near the castle and some opposite 
against the castle gate, so that the sale of that manor may be 
very inconvenient if it be his Majesty's pleasure to have this. 
All which we thought in duty fit to signify unto your Lordships, 
humbly submitting ourselves and the same to your honorable con- 
siderations, whom we beseech Almighty Grod evermore to pre- 
serve and prosper. 

" Tour Lordships' most bounden, 

" John Hercy, 
"Henet Adis." 

" At Kenilworth ; 10th Sept., 1609. 

(Endorsed) 
" The Survey of Killing worth." 1 



1610. " Eudfen. The improved yearly value, at 16 years' pur- 



chase to be bought. 



The site of the house, 
4 cottages, per ann. 



£ 
with 1 - 

I 5 







a. 



Meadow, 98a. 2r., at 10s. the 



5 







29 14 







[-155 9 "1 



acre J 49 

Pasture, 286a., at 5s. the"] 

acre, with the little !>7l 10 

paddock J 

Wood ground, incopsed, 

at 4s. the acre 

The Queen's Park there — 
The lodge there, fair and new"] 

built. Meadow, 18a., at \ 9 

10s. the acre J 

The lawn pasture, 51a. lr, 

at 8s. the acre 

Pasture and copse-wood") 

land, 391a. 3r., at 4s. the \ 97 15 

acre J per ann. j 

The little park of Rudfen, with a "I 

convenient lodge, meadow, and [- 66 12 J 

pasture, 222a., at 6s. the acre ... J in toto. 

deducting four years' purchase for the estate in joint 
ure of the Countess of Leicester 

And as remaineth for the purchase of all Rudfen 



21 4 J- 127 19 9 



£ s. d. 

350 9 
Unde deduct pro 
feod Firma de 
Rudfen, per ann., 
£100 5s. Et sic 
rem, £249 15s. 9d., 
which, at 16 years' 
purchase, amount- 
eth to £3996 12s. 
Whereof, 
£ s. d. 
999 3 
2998 9 



1 State Paper Office, London. 



228 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



£2943 16 



1201 10 



I 

^-4145 6 



Timber and woods in Rudfen— 
Timber, 8807 trees, 7359| tons, at "I 

8*. the ton J 

Firewood, 1580 trees, with the tops"! 

of the timber trees, 8010 loads, at > 

3s. the load J j 

Sum total of the purchase of the land and price of the 

timber and woods in Rudfen 7142 15 1 

1610. Endorsed. " Reasons touching Killingworth on behalf 
of the Lord Lisle and the Lord of Kenclinan." [Clinclenyn]. 
(For raising of Rents, and removing some of the Officers.) 

The value of Sir Robert Dudley's lands, forfeited to His 
Majesty, in Killingworth and Ladbrook, found 
by inquisition, and seized into his Majesty's hands, 
do amount to per ann. 717 9 

The same remain uncertain in his Majesty's hands. 

The Lady Dudley receiveth out of those lands, per ann. 300 

One Fitch challengeth „ 100 

A rent- charge granted by Sir Robert Dudley. 

So wZ^nzre^m., here will remain to the Lords but (pr. an.) 2 300 9 

1610. Endorsed. "The rents and values of divers places 
within the manor of Kenil worth." 

" The increase of rents at Kenilworth will be made upon these 
places following : 

Per ann. 



The chase, now let and 400 deer kept, is £110 

The same number of deer kept will yield . . . 
The Abbey grounds, now let for 48 

The same will yield 

The tithes of Kenilworth, now let for 20 

The same will yield 

Whiting holdeth ground in the old park, for 68 

The same will yield 

Wotton men hold ground in the old park, at 26 

The same will yield 

Edward Mole holds ground in the old park, for 74 

The same will yield 

John Benyon holdeth ground in the old park, 

for 50 

The same will yield 

The pool and flood-gates will yield 































Per ann. 



£160 



58 



30 



76 



30 



80 



55 
13 



The sum now answered cometh to £396 

The increase will be made per ann. £502 13 4 3 



State Paper Office, London. 



2 Ibid. 



Ibid. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 229 

1609-10, Feb. 8. " A Book of Entries of Privy Seals at large." 

" James, by the grace of G-od, King of England, Scotland, 
France and Ireland, Defender of the Eaith, &c. To the Trea- 
surer and Undertreasurer of our Exchequer for the time being, 
greeting. We will and command you, out of our treasure in the 
receipt of our Exchequer, to pay or cause to be paid unto our 
right trusty and well beloved, the Lord Viscount Lisle, 1 or his 
assigns, the sum of Three score and fifteen pounds, nine shillings, 
ten pence, in full satisfaction of the like sum disbursed by him 
for the charges of our Commissioners, Counsellers and others, 
who were employed for the finding of Sir Robert Dudley's lands ; 
the same to be taken to him without account, imprest, or other 
charge to be set upon him or them for the same ; and these our 
letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in that 
behalf. Given under our privy seal at our Palace of Westmin- 
ster, the Eighth day of February in the sixth year of our reign of 
England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the two and 
fortieth." 2 

Robert Sydney (Sir) succeeded as next heir male upon 
the death of his elder brother Sir Philip Sidney. This gallant 
person, like his predecessors, acquired renown in arms, first, 
under his uncle, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in the 
Netherlands, and afterwards with Sir Francis Verd, when he 
shared in the victory achieved at Turnholt in Brabant, anno 
1597. For these, upon the accession of King Jas. I., Sir 
Robert was elevated to the Peerage as Baron Sydney of 
Penshurst in the County of Kent, by letters patent, dated 
13th May, 1603, and upon the 24th July in the same year 
(it being the day of the King and Queen's coronation) he 
was appointed Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. The next 
year he was created Viscount Lisle. In 1616 he was in- 
stalled a Knight of the Garter, and raised on 2nd August, 
1618, to the Earldom of Leicester, the ceremony of creation 
being performed in the Hall of the Bishop's Palace at Salis- 
bury." 3 

1 Robert Sydney, created Viscount Lisle in 1604. 

2 < Warrant Book,' p. 2, State Paper Office. 

3 Burke's ' Dictionary of the Peerages, 5 1831. 



230 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

1610. "Lessees to whom the estate escheated to his Majesty 
by the contempt of Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, is committed." 

" Right honorable, our duties remembered, 

" We have lately received the King's Majesty's letters 
patent under the Great Seal of England, whereby we are made 
lessees of all the lands late Sir Robert Dudley's, upon trust and 
confidence that we shall dispose of the profits thereof in such 
sort as by the said letters patent is appointed. Upon view of 
which letters patent we find some questions, how far we stand 
chargeable out of our own estates to perform the covenants con- 
tained in the said letters patent, and how we shall be answered of 
the charges to be by us disbursed, in execution of the trust re- 
posed in us, from which there is no provision by the patent. Of 
which doubts, though we would willingly have been resolved upon 
the receipt of the said lease, and before we do enter into the 
business, yet assuring ourselves upon your honor's message de- 
livered to us by Mr. William Emott, servant to the Lord Viscount 
Lisle, the bringer of the patent, that your honor will provide that 
we shall receive no prejudice thereby, we attending such further 
directions herein as your honor shall please hereafter to send us, 
we resolve, with as much speed as possibly we may, to enter into 
the business. And so most humbly do take our leaves, and rest, 
" At your honor's command in all humble services, 

" Richard Verkey. 

"Edward Boughton. 

" W. Barnes. 

" Warwick, this 11th of August, 1610. 

(Superscription. ) 
" To the right-honorable our very good Lord, 

the Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer of England." 1 

1610-11, Jan. " To the right honorable the Earl of Salisbury, 
Lord high Treasurer of England. 

" The humble petition of Erancis Phipps, Keeper of the Chase 
of Kenilworth. 

" Showing in all humbleness to your good Lordship that the 
petitioner, about ten years since, was by the means of Sir Thomas 
Leigh, Knight, at the earnest desire of Sir Robert Dudley, per- 
suaded to leave a good farm wherein he was settled, at a place 
called Shustock, in the County of Warwick, and to serve the said 

1 State Paper Office, London. 



KENILWOKTH CASTLE. 231 

Sir Robert in the place of Keeper of the Chase of Killingworth 
which he yielded unto, upon Sir Robert's promises of reward and 
good allowances, with a patent for the same during your peti- 
tioner's life, which are certified to your good Lordship in Sir 
Richard Verney's letter, both by Sir Thomas Leigh and the Lady 
Dudley, in which respect by Sir Robert's own direction a patent 
of the said Keepership was drawn up by Mr. Dyot, a Counsel- 
lor at Law, but not sealed by means of Sir Robert's sudden 
departure. 

" May it please your Lordship, while Sir Robert Dudley con- 
tinued there, the chase was fully furnished with deer, to the num- 
ber of about 800, at which time it could yield no other benefit at 
all, but such as was allowed to your petitioner for his service and 
pains as aforesaid ; but since his departure the deer were abated to 
400 ; and the petitioner enjoined by Sir Thomas Leigh to pay £110 
rent per annum, and for the herbage and pannage 1 of the chase, 
and to maintain those 400 deer. 

" Forsomuch as since it hath been in the King's hands, the 
deer are increased to 500, so as your petitioner is not able to pay 
so great a rent, without either his undoing, or the spoil of the game. 

" He doth, therefore, most humbly beseech your good Lordship 
that you will vouchsafe in this respect to have an honorable con- 
sideration of him, and that your Lordship will be pleased to esta- 
blish him in his place, with an abatement from Michaelmas last of 
£30 per annum of the former rent, for the feeding of that 100 
deer, increased by his diligence and care, which is but an ordinary 
rate for the keeping of 100 sheep in that country, although .it is 
well known that a deer will take much more than a sheep. And 
that hereafter, as the game shall by view be found to be in- 
creased, a rateable abatement may be made of the rent accord- 
ingly. And he will daily pray for your Lordship's long life and 
happiness. 2 

1610-11, Feb. 5. " A letter or warrant from my Lord Treasurer 
to Sir Richard Varney and the other gentlemen, for the abatement 
of Francis Phippes his rent, for the chase and part of the park of 
Killingworth, now in the said chase, which the said Phippes holdeth 
upon the rent of £110 per annum, and is to maintain and keep there 

1 " Pannage, — the mast of the oak and beech, which swine feed on in the 
woods." — Halliwell. 

2 State Paper Office, London. 



232 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

four hundred deer upon the same, for that there are five hundred 
deer, the said Phippes to have an abatement of £30, and to pay 
from Michaelmas last for this year £80, and so to have an annual 
abatement, after the rate of £6 for the increase of every twenty 
deer, made him accordingly as the deer shall be hereafter yearly 
found to be increased upon the view. And the view of the deer 
to be at all times taken some small time before the 25th day of 
March, by honest and sufficient men of knowledge and under- 
standing in that science. 

" A warrant for the allowance timber to build and repair barns 
and hovels in the chase and park of Killingworth, for paling, rail- 
ing, and mending of bridges, in and about the said chase and park, 
with an allowance for the defraying the charge thereof as shall be 
needful. 1 

1610-11, Feb. 11. TheLessees applied to the Earl of Salisbury to 
be released from their charge of Killingworth, their lease contain- 
ing a covenant to keep the Castle in repair, and they are informed 
that even a new lease, without that covenant, would still make them 
liable ; they pray to be discharged from their trust altogether. 2 

Enclosed in the Letter of the 5th February from the Lessees 
or Commissioners. 

1610-11, Jan. 2. " The allowance of Francis Phipps for the 
keeping of the chase and park of Killingworth, made unto him by 
Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, the which he hath continually had, is 
as followeth : 

" First, the feeding and depasturing of twenty kine [cows], one 
bull, four geldings, and a convenient number of hogs for his 
provision. 

" Secondly, the usual fees that belong to other keepers with 
convenient store of wood for his fire. 

"And lastly, the hay and grass of the two meadows called 
Pleasant's Meadow and Constable's Meadow, for the deer and 
keeping of his own beasts and horses. 

" Thomas Leigh. 3 
" a. duddeley." 

1 State Paper Office, London. 2 Ibid. 

3 Sir Thomas Leigh was the father of Alice, Lady Dudley (whose signature 
is attached). He died in 1625. 






KENILWORTH CASTLE. 233 

Another enclosure in Letter of 5th February. 

In a letter of Sir Thomas Leigh to the Commissioners or 
Lessees, dated from Stoneleigh, the 2nd of January, 1610-11, he 
concludes (after reiterating the terms as stated in the above cer- 
tificate) thus, — 

"And for the farming of the ground since Sir Robert's de- 
parture he hath had it upon a hundred and ten pounds rent per 
annum, keeping at his own charge four hundred deer, which is the 
number he is tied unto. 1 

Lessees or Commissioners of the Lands of Sir Robert Dudley, to 
Cecil, Marl of Salisbury. 

" Compton; 5 Feb., 1610-11. 
" Eight honorable and our especial good Lord, 

" We have well conceived by your former letters, as by 
more later information we have received by Sir Richard Yerney, 
how much you have desired to be freed of those unnecessary 
troubles which are brought unto you concerning the business of 
Killingworth. And all our hopes are, that your honor doth 
rightly judge that it is from our obedience to your commandments 
only, and out of the desire we have to perform all duties, that you 
shall be pleased to impose upon us, that we do willingly undergo 
so troublesome employments. Concerning the contents of your 
honor's letters, brought unto us by the Lord Lisle his solicitor, 
the 6th of January, we confidently answer (sparing your honor 
from the trouble of the repetition of the particulars), that, as well 
for the allowance of Francis Grrammer, Bailiff and Woodward of 
Killingworth, as for all others that are employed in any necessary 
business there, we have ordered all things before the receipt of 
your honor's letters, with as small charge, and to as much ad- 
vantage of the Lords, as our discretions could reach unto, guiding 
ourselves by the directions which we have received from your 
honor. Concerning Francis Phipps, Keeper of the chase at Kil- 
lingworth, we have sent, here enclosed to your honor, the former 
note which we have received of the allowances intended to him 
from Sir Robert Dudley, and a later letter sent to us from Sir 
Thomas Leigh, justifying the same, with some other circum- 
stances which we thought your honor would be willing to be in- 
formed of. The worth of these cattle keeping (considering the 
1 State Paper Office. 



234 KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 

quality of the ground of the chase upon which they pasture) we 
value at forty pounds by the year. The deer we have caused to 
be viewed, and we are very well assured by the certificate that is 
returned us, that there are five hundred ; whereof of deer of antler 
there are four score and six, and of rascal 1 deer four hundred and 
fourteen. We have likewise appointed Francis Phipps himself to 
be the messenger of these letters, for your honor's full satisfaction 
in all things. And herein we have endeavoured ourselves to fulfil 
your honor's intentions and commandments, with as little trouble 
to your honor as we could possibly devise. And now we most 
humbly take our leaves, 

" Your honor's most humble at commandment, 
in all dutiful services, 

" Richard Verney. 

" Edward Botjghtok. 

" W. Barnes. 

" From Compton, this 5th of Feby. 

(Superscribed.) 
" To the right-honorable our especial good Lord, 

the Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer of England."* 

JRobert [Sydney"] Lord Lisle, to Bolt. [Cecil] Earl of Salisbury. 

"26 Mar. 1610-11. {Holograph.) 
tl My very good Lord, 

" I understand by my Lord of Kinclenin that having attended 
upon your Lordship to acquaint you with the return of the com- 
mission for the seizing of Sir R. Dudley's land, your Lordship 
told him that the King had delivered his pleasure unto your Lord- 
ship, together with my Lord Privy Seal, and Mr. Chancellor of 
the Exchequer, touching the grant which his Majesty intends to 
my Lord of Kinclenin and me. The cause why I have not myself 
waited upon your Lordship is that I have been under the Philis- 
tines' hands these two or three days, and so shall continue for a 
day or two more, which done, I shall be ready to attend your 
Lordship, with my Lord of Kinclenin, when it shall please you to 
appoint us. I trust his Majesty doth remember as well what he 
hath heretofore promised me concerning this business, as also that 

1 "Rascal. A lean animal, neitber fit to hunt or kill." — HaUiwelVn 
Dictionary. 

2 State Paper Office, London. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 235 

by his order I did follow it for him ; and I dare confidently affirm 
that but for me there had not anything of Sir Eobert Dudley's 
come to his Majesty's hands. I have likewise in this found your 
Lordship very favorable unto me, for which I yield you very 
humble thanks, and beseech you to continue it towards me, and 
to believe that I will ever be, 

" Very affectionate to do your Lordship service, 

" E. Lisle. 

" At Barnard's Castle; the 26th of March, 1610. 

(Superscription.) 
" To the right honorable nay very good Lord, 

the Earl of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer of England, etc." 1 

1611. The Lessees to the Llarl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer, 
to be discharged from their trust. 

" Eight honorable and our especial good Lord, 

" According to your honor's commandment, we have entreated 
this gentleman, Mr. Mallett, to wait upon you, that by him your 
honor may understand in what great danger we be, by continu- 
ing tenants to his Majesty, for Sir Eobert Dudley, his lands. 
Nothing doubting but by your wisdom, either by order of the 
Exchequer, or what other course shall seem fittest to your honor, 
upon whom we wholly rely and trust, we shall be cleared of such 
inconveniences as by these employments we are now subject unto. 
"Whereof resting most confidently assured, with the remembrance 
of our most humble duties, we humbly take our leaves, 

" Tour Lordship's most humble at Commandment, 
" In all dutiful services, 

" ElCHARD YERKEY, 

" Edward Bottghtcxn", 
" W. Barnes. 

" Compton; this 19th of April. 

(Superscribed.) 
" To the right honble our special good Lord, 

the Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer of England."' 

i State Paper Office, London. 2 Ibid. 



236 KENILVVORTH CASTLE. 

" Lady Dudley. Warrant for £300 yearly, during pleasure." 
With the sign manual of King James, and countersigned by 
Windebank. 

" JAMES Ex. 

" James, by the grace of Gk)d, &c. To the Commissioners 
for the exercise of the office of our High Treasurer of England, 
greeting. Whereas of our Princely bounty, and in consideration of 
the distressed estate of the Lady Alice Dudley, wife of Sir Eobert 
Dudley, Knight, we were pleased heretofore to grant unto the 
said Lady Dudley a yearly revenue and allowance of three hundred 
pounds, to be paid out of the rents and profits of the castle and 
manor of Killingworth, in our County of Warwick, which were 
seized into our hands for the contempt of the said Sir Eobert 
Dudley in not repairing into our realm of England, from beyond 
the seas, according to our commandment, which heretofore she 
hath accordingly received from the Bailiffs and other officers there, 
half yearly by even portions, according to our direction, hereto- 
fore signified to our late Treasurer, deceased, until the feast 
of St. Michael the Archangel, last past, of which half year's 
annuity she is as yet unsatisfied. We, minding to continue the 
payment of the said yearly annuity of Three hundred pounds unto 
the said Lady Dudley, for maintenance of herself and children, 
do will and command you to cause payment to be made unto the 
said Lady Dudley, or her assignee, of the said sum of Three 
hundred pounds, out of such our Treasure, as from time to time 
shall be and remain in the receipt of our Exchequer, at the two 
usual feasts of the year, that is to say, at the feasts of St. Michael 
the Archangel, and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, by 
equal portions. Tiie first payment thereof to begin at the feast 
of St. Michael the Archangel, last past, and so to continue half 
yearly during our pleasure. And these, &c. Given, &c. 

" By order from Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, 

" Windebank. 

(Endorsed.) " 1612. 

"Expedit apnd Theobaldes, Vicesimo die 

JSTovembri, anno R. Rx. Jacobi decimo, 

per Windebank/' 1 

1 Docquets. State Paper Office, London. 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLK. 237 

" Warrant for payment of £500 to Thomas Stone, on account 
of Sir Robert Dudley, with the sign manual of King James, and 
countersigned by Windebank. 

"JAMES Ex. 

" James, by the grace of God, &c. To the Commissioners 
for the exercise of the office of our High Treasurer of England, 
greeting. Whereas we were pleased of our princely bounty lately 
to bestow upon our late dearest son 1 Henry, Prince of Wales, 
the sum of seven thousand pounds towards the purchase of Kil- 
lingworth and the Parks thereto belonging. And thereupon did 
direct to you, our said Commissioners, letters under our privy 
seal, bearing date the seven and twentieth day of July last, for 
the payment thereof unto our said son, the Prince, or to such as 
he by writing under his hand should authorise and appoint for the 
receipt thereof, part whereof hath already been received, and some 
part thereof as yet remaineth unsatisfied. And whereas we are 
informed that our said son, the Prince, in his lifetime, did, by 
letters under his privy seal, bearing date the seventh day of Sep- 
tember last, directed unto you our said Commissioners, authorize 
and appoint Sir George More, Knight, Receiver- General of his 
possessions, to receive the sum of Three thousand and eight 
hundred and fifty pounds, being the remainder of the said sum of 
Seven thousand pounds, whereof One thousand pounds hath (as 
we are informed) been duly paid by you, our said Commissioners, 
unto him. And that by other letters under his privy seal, dated 
the tenth of September last, directed unto the said Sir George 
More, Knight, for payment of the sum of Five hundred pounds 
(out of the said sum of Three thousand eight hundred and fifty 
pounds, so by him to be received) unto Thomas Stone, Merchant, 
to be paid over unto Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, now remaining 
beyond the seas, according to the directions given to him in that 
behalf, which by reason of the decease of our said son, the Prince, 
neither the said Sir George More can receive the remainder of the 
said sum of Seven thousand pounds, being Two thousand eight 
hundred and fifty pounds, out of the receipt of our said Exche- 
quer, nor can the said Stone receive the said sum of Five hundred 
pounds of the said Sir George More, for that those assignations, 

1 Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of James I, died at St. James's Palace, 
6th Nov., 1612, and was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 7th Dec. 
following. 



238 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

by the death of our said son, are now determined. "We minding, 
nevertheless, but that the said Stone should receive the said sum 
of Five hundred pounds, which we are given to understand he 
hath already made payment of beyond the seas unto the said Sir 
Robert Dudley, do will and command you of such our Treasure as 
now is, or shall remain and be in the receipt of our said Exche- 
quer, to cause payment to be made unto the said Thomas Stone, 
or his assignee, of the said sum of Five hundred pounds, so by 
him already disbursed, as aforesaid, without account, imprest, — or 
other charge to be set upon him, his executors, administrators, 
or assigns, for the same, or for any part thereof. And these, &c. 
Griven, &c. 

" By order from Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, 

" Windebank. 

(Endorsed.) " 1612. 

" Expedit apud Theobaldes, Vicesinio die 

Novembri, anno R. Reg. Jacobi decimo, 

per Windebank." 1 

" Warrant under the sign manual of James 1st. 
"JAMES Ex. 

" James, by the grace of God, &c. To the Treasurer, 
Chancellor, and Under Treasurer of our Exchequer, greeting. 
Whereas [ ] Wyatt hath been employed a Commissioner 

to Sir Robert Dudley, in Florence, to treat and compound with 
him for the Castle and Manors of Killingworth, which service he 
effected with all diligence and faithfulness, and disbursed therein 
divers sums of money, for which he hath not yet received any 
satisfaction. We will and command you, of such our Treasure 
as is now, or shall be remaining in the receipt of our Exchequer, 
forthwith to pay, or cause to be paid, to the said [ ] Wyatt, 

or his assigns, the sum of Fifty pounds by way of reward until 
farther consideration be had of his cause by those to' whom the 
matter is referred ; the said sum of Fifty pounds to be taken [paid] 
unto him without account, or other charge to be set upon him, the 
said Wyatt, for the same, or any part thereof. And these our 
letters, &c. Griven, &c. 

" By order of Mr. Secretary Lake, 

" WlNDEBANK. 
(Endorsed.) " 1616. 

" Expedit apud Windsor, octavo die July, 
anno R. Rx. Jacobi quarto decimo, 

per Windebank." 1 

1 Docquets. State Paper Office, London. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 239 

1617-18. " At Whitehall, on Friday afternoon, 20th of February, 1617. 

" Whereas William Dyneley and John Wyatt have been long 
suitors to this Board, for satisfaction of charges and moneys dis- 
bursed in the execution of a commission under the great seal of 
England, concerning the concluding of a bargain, on his Majesty's 
behalf, with Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, for the castle and manors 
of Killingworth and Rudfen, in the County of Warwick, and for 
passing the fine and conveyances for the same. For the perform- 
ance of which service they went twice to Leghorn, in Italy, where 
Sir Robert Dudley then was, and by their care and travaille 1 re- 
duced the price from £38,000 (at which time it was surveyed 
by commission out of the Exchequer) unto £7000, which was 
paid for the lands. Forasmuch as it appeareth by a certificate 
under the hand of Erancis Grofton, Esq., one of the Auditors of 
his Majesty's Imprests upon Depositions and Affidavits, taken 
before one of the Barons of His Majesty's Exchequer, by way of 
proof and voucher, that the petitioners have taken up at interest 
and disbursed the sum of £1332 19s. 5d. about the concluding of 
that purchase. And that their Lordships, in justice and con- 
science, think it meet that payment be made thereof; It is this 
day ordered, that his Majesty be moved, out of his gracious and 
princely favor, to grant a privy seal of £1500, in full satisfaction 
of the said petitioners, viz. £1332 19s. 5d. for moneys disbursed 
as aforesaid, and the overplus, by way of reward, which by the 
aforesaid certificate was left to the consideration of the Board, to 
be paid unto them, either out of such a suit, as they themselves 
shall find, and by this Board shall be thought fit to pass for 
their satisfaction in that behalf or otherwise, as shall be found 
meet." 2 

Besides the warrant of the 23rd Eeb., 1621-2, as to Lady Alice 
Dudley, among the " Bills delivered into the upper house of Par- 
liament," 19 Jas. I. — 

"An act to enable Dame Alice Dudley, wife of Sir Robert 
Dudley, Knight, to assure the estate in the castle and manor of 
Killingworth, and other lands in the County of Warwick, for 
a valuable consideration, to the Prince his Highness and his 
heirs." 3 

1 Travaille, Labor. — Halliwell. 

2 Pr. Council Regr., Jas. I., vol. iii. 

3 Journal, Ho. Lords, vol. iii. 



240 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

1621. " 7th December. 

" Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Baron Bromley bring from the 
Lords a bill intituled, An Act to enable Dame Alice Dudley, wife 
of Sir Robert Dudley, Knight." 1 

"Docket of Warrants issued 23rd Feby., 1621-2. 

" A grant (at the request of the Prince, his Highness) unto Sir 
Henry Compton, Knight, and others, to the use of the Lady 
Dudley, wife to Sir Robert Dudley, of the sum of £4000, paid to 
the said Lady by the Prince, upon relinquishing her estate of 
jointure, in the manor and park of Killingworth, with a declara- 
tion also that the Lady Dudley shall quietly enjoy the goods, 
chattels, and pensions, whereof she, or any other to her use, now 
are possessed, and all other goods and chattels which she shall 
hereafter obtain without any claim thereunto by his Majesty, by 
reason of any contempt or forfeiture of Sir Robert Dudley, and 
so that he shall not dispose thereof: Subscribed by Mr. Attorney 
General. By order under the sign manual." 1 

1 ' Journal, Ho. Commons,' vol. i. 



%n fniieniorg 

OP THE 

fin Heneltoortfe Cattle, 

Taken after the Death of Robert Earl of Leycester, 1588. T 



An Inventorie of Plate, Glasses, Pewter Vessell, Kitchen Stuffe, 
and other Implwments of Houshold, of the Right Honorable 
the Earle of Leycester, at Kenellworthe, in the charge of 
Thomas Cole, upon the view taken 1584, and perused since 
by W. George, Ed. Blounte, 1588. 

Plate. 

A rounde deepe bason and ewer of silver, pois lxiiij.02. 

Another greate plaine bason and ewer, with my lordes amies 
on the bottom and side of the ewer. 

A nest of chalice bowles, with a cover, pois lxxvj.02. 

Fyve plaine silver juggs, with two eares a peice, pois cxlix.02. 

A salte, ship-fashion, of the mother-of-perle, garnished with 
silver and divers workes of warlike ensignes and ornaments, with 
xvj. peices of ordinance, whereof ij. on wheles, two anckers on 
the fore parte, and on the stearne the image of Dame Fortune, 
standing on a globe, with a flag in her hand, pois xxxij.02. 

1 We are indebted to J. O. Halliwell, Esq. for this interesting Inventory 
of the property of the Earl of Leycestee at Kenilwobth Castle, at the 
time of his death in 1588. It was printed by him from a modern transcript 
of the Original MS. in private hands, which was exhibited at the Kensington 
Museum in 1863 or 1864. 

Sir Haeeis Nicolas states that " a list of the Furniture, Pictures, &c, at 
Kenilworth, whilst it belonged to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, is in the 
possession of his representative, Sir John Sidney, at Penshurst. It is dated iu 
June, 1583." 

16 



242 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

A gilte salte, like a swann, mother-of-perle, pois xxk.oz. iij. 
quarters. 

Six rounde salts graven with armes, pois cxij.02. 

Two fayer plaine gilt saltes with covers, standing npon three 
bowles, pois liij.o;?. iij. quarters. 

One other, containing lvj.02. 

A dozen of silver spoons, xvj.02. quarter. 

Two stand juggs, with covers, brims, and feete of silver, and 
gilte chased. 

Glasses. 

Ffyve plaine bole glasses, without covers. 

Efyve indented bole glasses ; two graven bole glasses ; twelve 
beare glasses of severall fashions, iij. with covers ■ two plaine 
taper glasses with covers ; two others ribbed taper glasses ; an 
embossed glasse with a cover ; two glass ewers. 

Glass Dishes. 

Tenne glasse dishes gilte, with the sinque foyle on the brims. 

Eight graven dishes of glasse aboute the brims. 

Twelve greate standing indented bole glasses for cream e. 

A deepe standing glasse, with a cover. 

Ffyvteen glasses, brode brimed and narrowe bottoms. 

Ffowertene greate deepe glasses, viij. of them plaine. 

A dozen of dishe glasses of one sorte. 

Two dozen and iiij. dishe glasses of another sorte. 

Candlesticks. 

Two greate candlesticks, gilte and graven, and coloured blew. 

Two more, plaine white and graven. 

Seaven without graving. 

A George on horseback of wood, painted and gilt, with a case 
for knives in the tayle of the horse, and a case for oyster knives 
in the breast of the dragon. 

JPeawter. 

Ffyve greate chargers, thyrteen great platters. 

Six dozen and iij. platters of another sorte. 

Twelve dozen and ffyve platters of a lesser sort then the last. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 243 

Tena dozen dishes of a smaller sort. 

Three dozen dishes more of severall sorts, 

Six dozen of sallett dishes. 

Three dozen sawcers of the ould sorte. 

Three dozen and six of a latter supplie. 

Ffowerteen pie plates of the greatest sorte. 

Eight pie plates of the second sorte. 

Ffyve pie plates of the third sorte. 

Eleven pewter basons, eleven ewers, fowerteen pewter salt- 
sellers, ffyve dozen and iiij. trencher plates, ffyve greate danske 
potts, ffowr lesser danske potts. 

Ffyve great potts with greate bellies. 

Efyve close stooles of black velvet quilted, with panns. 

Ffower of Flaunders worke, two of blacke velvet plaine. 

A close stoole of black velvet, laced and fringed with black 
silck. 

A lowe stoole of blacke vellet, quilted with black silck, with a 
panne. 

Ffyve close stooles of black velvet. 

Eight close stooles with locks to them. 

A close stoole of black velvet, garnished with lace and fringe of 
silver, gould, and black silck. 

Ffower close stooles, in fashion of chaiers of green clothe. 

A close stoole of black vellet, garnished with black silck and 
silver. 

Six other close stooles, two dozen of pewter chamber potts. 

Ffyve basons, a greate pewter peice like a bason. 

AuiiJyrons. 

A greate pair of lattin andirons, with pillers graven antique. 

Ffowre lesser paire of andirons, with pillers of lattin. 

vij. pair of andirons, with rings and duble knopps of lattin, 
with vj. fyer-shovells and vj. pair of tongs. 

Ffower pair of lowe andirons of lattin. 

Ffower pair of andirons with single knobbs of lattin, and iiij. 
pair of tongs and shovells to them. 

A little pair of a plaine andirons, with fyer shovells and tonges 
to them ; paste service. 

Three fyer shovells, and one pair of tongs with lattin knobbs, 

Two greate fyer shovells with tynned handles. 

Two pair of wallnut tree bellowes. carved. 



244 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

A warming paim for a bed, scarce serviceable. 

Fower perfuming panns of lattin ; a greate caDdlestick of lattin, 
with xxiiij. socketts. 

A hanging candlestick of lattin, with vij. socketts hanging 
aboute a staggs head. 

A G-reeke barge- clothe, embrothred with white lions and 
beares. 

Wicker skreens, iiij. ; a perfumine pann of silver, pois xix.oz. ; 
two casting- bottles of silver and gilte, one flat, the other rounde. 

Tables. 

A long table to fould with leaves, standing upon a frame of 
wainscott. 

A long table of deale borde, standing upon a frame of wainscott. 

Three square tables of maple, inlaid and border'd with wallnutt 
tree, with frames to them. 

Eighteen square tables of wainscott, with frames. 

Efyve foulding tables of wainscott. 

Efower long tables of firr, without frames. 

Two square tables of ashe. 

A foulding table of wallnuttree. 

Thirty-nine formes of wainscott. 

Eifty-fower stooles of wainscott. 

Lyverie cupbords of wainscott. 

In the Hall. 

Tabells, long and short, vj. 
Eformes, long and shorte, xiiij.ten. 

This charge hath bin perused twice, once in my lord's lyfe 
tyme, the xxvj.th of June, 1583 -} and since his deathe, xxvj.th of 
October, 1588, as appeareth by the originall, subscribed Thomas 
Underhill, testibus Edward Boughton, Alexander Neville, 1583 ; 
againe, 1588, Thomas Underhill, testibus Alex. Neville, Edw. 
Blount, "William Gorges. 

Bedsteds, with their Furniture. 

1. A fayre, riche, new, standing square bedsted of wallnuttree, 
all painted over with crimson, and silvered with roses, iiij. beares 
and ragged staves, all silvered, standing upon the corners ; the 

1 Referred to in Sir Haeeis Nocolas'S note, see page 241. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 245 

teastar, cealar, dooble vallance, and bases of crimson velvet, 
richly einbrothered with cinque-foiles of clothe of silver, with my 
lord's armes verie richly einbrothered in the midst of the cealor 
and teastar, supported with the white lyon and the beare, silver ; 
lyned throughe with red buckerom. — Three bases and duble 
vallance, fringed with deepe fringe of crimson silk and silver. 

Fyne curteines of crimson sattin of xiiij. breaths, striped downe 
with a bone lace of silver, with xciiij. long buttons and loopes of 
silver, and a little small fringe of crimson silk and silver rounde 
aboute the curteins, lyned through with white taffata sarsenet. 

2. A bedsted of wallnuttree toppe fashion, the pillers redd and 
varnished, the ceelor, tester, and single vallance of crimson sattin, 
paned with a broad border of bone lace of golde and silver ; the 
tester richlie embrothered with my lords armes in a garland of 
hoppes, roses, and pomegranetts, and lyned with buckerom. Fyne 
curteins of crimson sattin to the same bedsted, striped downe 
with a bone lace of golde and silver, garnished with buttons and 
loopes of crimson silk, and golde, containing xiiij. ten bredths of 
sattin, and one yard iij. quarters deepe; the celor, vallance, and 
curteins lyned with crymson taffata sarsenet ; a crymson sattin 
counterpointe, quilted and imbrodered with a golde twiste, and 
lyned with redd sarsenet, being in length iij. yards good, and in 
breadth iij. yards scant. 

A chaire of crymson stattin suteable. 

Afayre quilte of crymson sattin, vj. breadths iij. yards 3 quarters 
naile deepe, all lozenged over with silver twiste, in the midst a 
cinquefoile within a garland of ragged staves, fringed rounde 
aboute with a small fringe of crymson silke, lyned throughe with 
white fustian. 

Ffyve plumes of coolored feathers, garnished with bone lace 
and spangells of goulde and silver, standing in cups knitt all 
over with goulde, silver, and crymson sattin, embrothered with a 
border of goulde twiste, aboute iij. parts of it fringed with silk 
and goulde, lyned with bridges sattin, length ij. yards and ij. 
bredths of satin. 

3. A felde bedsted of wallnuttree toppe fashion, the pillors 
and bedshead carved and garnished, parcell-gilte, my lo. armes 
painted therein, and the beare and ragged staffe embossed at the 
topp. The celor and double vallance to the same bed being of 



246 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

green velvet embro. with narrowe gards of green sattin and purned 
gonlde, the ragged staffe running along the midst of the same 
gardes ; lyned througheout with yelloe and green braunched 
caffa, and the vallance fringed with a deepe call fringe of green 
silk and goulde. Efyve curtaines of green velvet, and one little 
one for the tester, einbr. and lyned like the rest, and fringed with 
a narrowe fringe of green silke and goulde. A counterpointe to 
the bed of green velvet, embrothered likewyse with my lo. armes 
in the garter, supported with the white lyon and the green ; the 
beare and ragged staffe npon the creaste, lyned throughe with 
caffa, with buttons and loopes of green silk and goulde at the 
neather corner. A carpet for a cupboarde suteable, iiij. bredths 
of velvet ij. yards deepe, lykewise embrothered. Three bases of 
like velvet, in lyke manner embrothered and lyned, fringed with 
a narrowe fringe of green silke and goulde, with bnttons and 
loopes, like the counterpointe. Pfyve cuppes for the top of the 
same bedd, carved with lybberds heads gilt, and fringed at the 
lower end with green silke and goulde. 

4. A square bedsted of wallnuttree ; the cielor, tester, and 
duble vallance of crymson sattin, embrothered richlie with cloth 
of golde tissue, with my lo. armes, supported with the beare and 
white lyon embrothered within sundry parts of the vallance ; 
fringed with a deepe fringe of goulde and crymson silke. A 
counterpoynte of crymson sattin, quilted and embrothered with 
crymson cloth of goulde, rounde aboute in a broade border and 
narrowe borders downright, and my lo. armes richlie embr. in the 
midst ; six breadths of sattin and iij. yards iij. quarters long, 
lyned with buckerom. Ffyve curteines of crymson damaske to 
the same bed, of xiiij. bredths and ij. yards deepe, garnished 
downe the seames with a bone lace of golde, fringed about the 
sides with crymson silke and goulde ; and iij. doz. and ij. buttons 
and loopes of goulde; iiij. beares of woode, silvered and parcell 
gilte, for the topp of the same bedd. 

5. A great square bedsted of wallnuttree, carved, silver gilt, 
and painted very fayer ; the tester, ceelor, and duble vallance and 
bases of clothe of silver and crymson sattin, embr. with goulde 
lace, my lo. fathers armes and my ladyes in sundry parts of it ; 
the vallance fringed with a deepe fringe of goulde, silver, and 
crymson silke. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 2±7 

Ffyve curteins of crymson taffata, being vij. bredths, and in 
depth ij. yards quarter, and striped downe with goulde twiste, 
garnished with loope buttons and fringe of crymson silk and 
goulde. 

A counterpointe of crymson taffita, embr. with goulde and 
silver twiste, having amies richlie embr. in the midst, suteable to 
the tester, and fringed with a narrowe fringe of goulde and silver, 
lacking at one end fringe a yard 3 quarters, being in length iij. 
yards 3 quarters, and in breadth iij. yards and quarter. 

6. A field bedsted of wallnuttree topp fashion, varnished and 
gilte : the ceelor, tester, and vallance of crymson raised velvet, 
striped, with a bone lace of crimson silke and goulde, the tester 
and vallance lyned with crimson taffata. Ffyve curteins of crim- 
son damaske, being in depth one yard 3 quarters, garnished with 
long buttons and fringe of crimson silke and goulde, and striped 
downe with open lace of goulde. Ffyve plumes of red and yello 
feathers, spangled with goulde, for the topp of the same bed. A 
counterpointe of crimson damaske of 5 bredths, striped downe 
with the like lace, fringed with a narrowe fringe of crimson 
silke and goulde, lyned with russet fustain being in depth iij. 
yards quarter. 

7. A field bedsted of wallnuttree, painted red and gilt; the 
ceelor, tester, and single vallance of scarlet, embr. with goulde 
and red velvet, in fashion of broad gards ; the vallance fringed 
with a deepe fringe of silke and goulde ; the ceeler and tester 
embr. very thicke. Ffyve curteins of scarlet, likewise embr., 
garnished with loope buttons and fringe of red silke and goulde, 
and lyned with red sarsenet. A counterpointe for the same 
of crymson taffata, striped with a bone lace of goulde, and fringed 
rounde with a narrowe fringe of red silke, lyned with jean fustian. 

8. A bedsted of wallnuttree ; the ceilor, tester, and vallance of 
crymson damaske, embr. with flowers of goulde and silver, fringed 
with crimson silke, cauld with golde. Ffyve curteins of crimson 
taffata, laied on with silver lace. Bases to the bed, lit t for the 
same, of crymson damaske. A counterpointe of crimson taffata, 
quilted and fringed with goulde and silver, and embr. with a 
border of clothe of golde. 

ix. A fielde bedsted of wallnuttree; the ceelor, tester, and 



248 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

vallance of crimson velvet, embr. with armes, beasts, &c., silver, 
lyned with crimson taffata. 

. Five curteins of crimson taffata, fringed with golde, &c, being 
in depth, xiij. bredths of the silk, in length 2 yards scant. A 
quilte crimson taffata sarsenett, lyned with chequier canvis, black 
and white, in length 3 yards quarter, in bredth 2 yards. 

x. A square bedsted of wallnuttree ; the ceelor, testor, and 
duble vallance of white tinsell sarsenett, embr. all over with purple 
velvet and copper goulde; the vallance fringed accordinglie. 
Fyve curteines to the same bed of purple and white taffata, paned, 
containing 22 panes, and 2 yards quarter deepe. A counterpointe 
to the same bed of purple sarsenett, quilted and fringed with a 
narrowe fringe of golde and silver rounde aboute, containing in 
bredth iiij. yards, in length iij. yards iij. quarters. 

xi. A fielde bedsted, with ceelor, testor, and vallance of black 
velvet. Fyve curteines of black taff. sarsenett, containing 5 
bredths, and in depth j. yard iij. quarters. A counterpointe of 
black taffata, containing in length iij. yards, in bredth 2 yards 3 
quarters scant. 

xii. A great square wainscot bedsted, gilte and carved ; the 
ceelor, testor, and vallance of crimson velvet, clothe of tissue, and 
clothe of goulde, with the queens armes upon the celor and testor, 
paned ; bought of the Lady Lenox ; with bases, &c. Fyve cur- 
teines of crimson damaske, duble vallance, containing 15 panes, 
and 2 yards and quarter deepe. A quilte of carnacions and blew 
taffata, paned and chekered over with a twiste of goulde, and embr. 
with a border of clothe of golde, and fringed with goulde, lyned 
with Million [Milan] fustian, containing in length 4 yards quarter, 
in bredth iij. yards quarter. 

xiii. A fielde bedsted of wallnuttree topp fashion ; the ceelor, 
testor, and single vallance of clothe of Murrey and greene, gar- 
nished with lace of greene silke and copper goulde, with 3 cur- 
teines of the same clothe ; the testor and vallance lyned with 
changeable sarsenett. A counterpointe to the same, of the same 
clothe, laide downe the seames and aboute with the like lace 
and fringed ; lyned with fustian, containing in length S yards 3 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 249 

quarters, and in bredth 3 yards scant. A cupboarde clothe sute- 
able. 

xit. A fielde bed of wallnuttree ; the ceelor, testor, and val- 
lance of Murrey cloth, garnished with a lace of copper goulde 
and silke, with 3 curteines of iiij. bredths of clothe, fringed; the 
testor and Tallance lyned with purple sarsenett. A counter- 
pointe of the same clothe, lyned down the seames with the like 
lace, and friDged round with the like fringe, lyned with fustian. 
A cupboarde of clothe suteable. 

xt. A fielde bedsted of wallnuttree ; the ceelor, testor, and 
vallance of blew clothe, garnished with a chaine lace of goulde 
and silver copper. Three curteines of the same clothe, laced over 
with like lace, being iiij. bredths of the clothe fringed ; the testor 
and vallance lyned with sarsenett. A counterpointe of the same 
clothe, in length iiij. yards 3 quarters, in bredth ij. yards, laid 
downe the seames with the like lace to the bed, fringed ac- 
cordinglie ; lyned with the same fustian ; with a cupboard clothe 
suteable. 

xti. A fielde bedsted of wallnuttree ; the ceelor, testor, and 
vallance of red clothe, garnisht with a flat lace, copper gilt. 
Three curteines of the same clothe, the ceelor and vallance lyned 
wiih red sarsenett. A counterpointe of the same clothe, con- 
tayning in length iij. yards iij. quarters naile, and in bredth iij. 
yards scant. A cupboarde clothe suteable. 

xvii. A Venice bedstead, with iiij. teannes carved like men and 
women, varnished and gilded verie faire, with a sparver of crimson 
velvet and blacke clothe of goulde, paned. The ceelor and testor 
richlie embrothrd with my lo. armes in the garter, and all the 
rest sett out with beares, ragged staves and letters of clothe of 
goulde and silver, embrothrd; the sparver containing iiij. panes, 
whereof the two utter panes are in depthe iij. yards and quarter, 
the other 2 shorter by a yard. Fyve curteines to the said sparver 
of crimson taffata, containing eleven bredths ; the seames laid 
downe with a bone lace of silver and goulde, garnished with long 
buttons and loopes of goulde and silver, fringed accordinglie ; in 
depth iij. yards. A counterpointe of crimson sattin, embr. all 
over with twiste and spangells of golde and silver, embr. rounde 



250 KEN1LWORTH CASTLE. 

aboute with a border of the ragged staffe, roses and lillies, &c, 
verie richlie fringed with a narrowe fringe of golde and silver and 
silk ; lyned with crimson taffata sarsenett ; in length iij. yards 
iij. quarters and the 5 bredths of the sattin. 

xyiii. Asparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with a sparver of crimson 
rased velvet and crymson tynsell sattin, striped, paned togeither, 
fringed with goulde and silke. Three curteines of taffata crimson. 
A counterpointe of crimson sattin, quilted and fringed rounde 
with goulde, containing 6 breaths of sattin, and iij. yards long. 

xix. A sparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with a sparver of yellow 
and blew caffa, with three curteines of yelloe and blewe sarsenett. 
A counterpointe of the same caffa, quilted and lyned with fustian, 
containing 5 bredths of the stuffe, in length iij. yards iij. quarters. 

xx. A sparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with a sparver of red 
and greene caffa. Three curteines of red and green sarsenett, 
changeable, containing 7 bredths, and in depth iij. yards. A 
counterpointe of the same caffa, quilted and lyned with fustian. 

xxr. A sparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with a sparver of yelloe 
and blew caffa, with three curteines of yellow and blewe sarsenett. 
A quilted counterpointe of the same. 

xxii. A sparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with a sparver of red 
and yelloe caffa. Three curteines of red and yelloe sarsenett, 
A counterpointe of the same caffa, quilted and lyned with fustian. 

xxiii. A sparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with turned and 
carved pillors, with a sparver of blewe and orange tawnie darnaske, 
the vallance and curteines fringed with blewe and orange tawnie 
silke. A counterpointe of blew darnaske, laced and fringed with 
tawnie and blew silke, and lyned with Jene fustian. 

xxiv. A sparver bedsted of wallnuttree, with a greate sparver 
of redd darnaske, and curteines of redd caffata sarsenett. 

xxt. A slope bedsted, covered and furnished with broade clothe 
frost upon green, lined throughe with green sarsenett. A coun- 
terpointe to the same of green taffata sarsenett, not fringed ; 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 251 

the bed fringed, buttoned, and laced with greene silke and 
silver. 

xxyi. A slope little bedsted for the field, of wallnuttree ; the 
ceelon, testor, and curteines of green clothe, all trinied with lace 
and fringe of green and yelloe silke. A counterpointe of like 
green clothe, trinied with lace and fringe of greene and yelloe 
silke, lyned with fustian. 

xxyii. A slope bedsted of wallnuttree ; the testor and curteines 
of orange tawnie kersey, garnished with fringe lace, and buttons 
of blewe and orange tawnie silk. 

xxviii. A slope bedsted of wallnuttree, covered and furnished 
with peache-coller broade clothe. Counterpointe to the same, 
iaced and fringed with ashe-coolor silke. 

xxix — xxx. Two ould joyned bedsted, the one with a wainscott 
testor. 

Two bedsted cases of red leather. 

xxxi. Acanapie bedsted of wallnuttree, with a canapie of green 
and yelloe changeable taflata, garnished with lace of green silke 
and gould. Two curteines, containing 18 panes, and in depth ij. 
yards and quarter, with buttons, tassells, and fringe of green 
silke and goulde. A counterpointe of like taffata, lyned with 
Jene fustain, and fringed with goulde and silver fringe ; in length 
iij. yards scant, bredth ij. yards 3 quarters. 

xxxn. An other canepie of like taftata ; curteines and coun- 
terpointe garnished with lace, buttons, tassells, and fringe of 
greene silke and silver. 

xxxiii. A canapie of purple lawne, brainched with sundry 
colors, lyned with crimson tinsell sarsenett, and tasselld with 
silke and goulde. A counterpointe of changeable sarsenett, 
quilted, purpell and yelloe, in length iij. yards, in bredth ij. yards 
3 quarters. 

xxxiv. A canapie bedsted of wainscott, the canapie of green 
sarsenett, buttoned, tasselled, and fringed with green silke. A 
counterpointe of green sarsenett, quilted. 



252 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

xxxv. A canapie of purple sarsenett, with buttons, tassells, and 
fringe of silk ; the traine being of xiiij. panes, and in depth ij. 
yards, stained and neere woren. Counterpointe of like sarsenett, 
quilted and lyned with fustian, the coolor being vaded. 

Killingwortli JBeddes, 8fc. 

A principall bed of downe, the tyke of Millian fustian, in length 
ij. yards 3 quarters, in breadth iiij. breadths of the sayde fustian. 

A bowlester to the same. 

One other speciall bed of downe, the tyke being viij. quarters, 
and striped all over with blew ; with a bowlester to the same. 

Nine other beddes of downe, with their bowlesters. 

Ninety fether beddes of different sizes, with their bowlesters. 

Twenty-four lynnen quiltes. 

Thirty-seven pair of fustian blancketts. 

Twentie pair of playne white woollen blancketts. 

Seventie pillowes of different lengths, from 3 quarters of a yard 
to one yard. 

Eight white Spanish ruggs, xiv. and xyj. ells the peece. 

Eighteen other white ruggs, tenn of them of a courser sorte. 

One red rugg of xij. ells ; one blew, of xij. ells ; one green, of 
xij. ells ; two white Irish ruggs of ij. breadths, iij. yards long. 

Seven Spanish ruggs, white. 

xiiij. course English bancketts. 

Eower redd ruggs. 

One green rugg. 

Twentie- seaven other blancketts. 

A counterpointe of watchett caffa quilted, in length iij. yards, 
in breadths iij. yards. A counterpointe of imagerie, being in 
length iij. ells and in breadth ij. ells. 

Two counterpointes of tapestrie. 

Fourteen other counterpointes of tapestrie. 

Six counterpointes of imagerie tapestry, of different lengths 
and breadths. 

Eighteen counterpointes of Vardures, lyned throughe with 
can vis. 

Thirty-six counterpointes of course Vardures. 

Thirty-seven mattresses of canvis, of different sizes. 

Three pair of fine holland sheets, iij. breadths, in length iij. 
ells. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 253 

Twenty-four pair of course holland sheets. 

Term pair of pallet sheets, ij. breadths, and ij. ells and quarter 
long. 

Tenn pair of fine canvis sheets, of ij. ells broad, and ij. ells 
long. 

Twelve pair of sheets, of iij. breadths, iij. ells and quarter long. 

One pillowbere, wrought all over with hops, knotts, and roses 
of blew silke. 

Two pillowberes, wrought with laide worke of red and yello 
silck, in length a yard, breadth a yard. 

A pillobere, wrought with carnacions of golde, and carnacions 
of green silck ; one square pillobere of open worke of goulde, 
silver, and sundry coloured silckes, lyned with cambricke. 

Two pilloberes of cambrick, wrought with beares, &c, of goulde, 
silver, and silck of sundry colours. 

Two pilloberes of Italian work, of sundrie coloured silck. 

Two pilloberes, with pillows to them, wrought with gould, 
silver, and silcks of sundry colors. 

Two pilloberes, with a border of lorne worck, black. 

Two pilloberes of holland, with a border of open worcke of 
white thred. 

Thirty-nine very fayre wrought pilloberes, sent to London, per 
Browne, for the Countisse, October 17, 1588. 

Chayres, Stool es, and Cusfiens. 

A chaier of crimson velvet, the seate and backe partlie em- 
brothered with E. L. in clothe of goulde, the beare and ragged 
staffe in clothe of silver, garnished with lace and fringe of goulde, 
silver, and crimson silck ; the frame covered with velvet, bounde 
abowte the edge with goulde lace, and studded with gilte nailes. 

A square stoole and a foote stoole of crimson velvet, fringed 
and garnished suteable. 

A long cushen of crimson velvet, embr. with the ragged staffe 
in a wreathe of goulde, with my lo. posie, " Droyte et Loyale" 
written in the same, and the letters E. L. in clothe of goulde, 
being garnished with lace and fringe ; buttons and tasseles of 
golde, silver, and crimson silck ; lyned with crimson taff. ; being 
in length 1 yard quarter. 

A square cushen of the like velvet, embr. suteable to the long 
cushen. 



254 KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 

A chaier of wallnuttree, carved with the cinque-foile and the 
ragged staffe, covered with crimson velvet, the back richlie em- 
brothered with cinque-foiles of clothe of silver, with two beares 
and ragged staves standing on the topp ; the seate all lozenged 
with silver twiste, trimed with fringe of crimson silck and silver • 
the back of the chaier lyned with crimson sattin. A case of 
buckerom to the same. 

A square stoole and a foote stoole suteable to the same. 

A long cnshin of crimson velvet, embr. with cinquefoilles, with 
tassells of crimson silck and silver, lyned with crimson sattin 
suteable. 

Two chaiers of crimson velvet, embr. with black clothe of 
goulde, lyned with purple taffata, and fringed with redd silek and 
goulde. Two square stooles suteable. 

Two long cushins of the same sorte suteable, lyned with purple 
taffata, buttoned and tasselled with crimson silck and goulde, in 
length 1 yard, in breadth 1 yard. 

Two chaiers of black velvet, embr. with clothe of gould, lyned 
on the backe with purple taffata ; two square stooles suteable. 
Two long cushins of black velvet, embr. with clothe of goulde, 
suteable to the sayd chayers, with buttons and tassells at the 
corners of blacke silck and goulde ; in length and breadth, 
1 yard. 

A chaier of purple velvet, embr. with my lo. armes in the quarter, 
and letters, &c, fringed with purple silck and silver; the back 
lyned with purple sattin, with ragged staves, and a white lyon on 
the backe. 

A chaier of crimson velvet, embr. with a broade wreathe of 
goulde, lyned on the backe with purple taffata. 

A square stoole suteable. A long cushin of the same suite, 
with iiij. buttons and tassells at the corners of crimson silck and 
goulde, length and breadth 1 yard. 

A chaier of crimson velvet, the seate, back, and frame embr. all 
over with clothe of gould and silver ; the beare and ragged staffe 
embr. in the back in clothe of goulde and silver, and garnished 
with lace and fringe of goulde and silver. 

Two square stooles and a foote stoole suteable. 

Two long cushins to the same, with buttons and tassells and 
fringe of goulde, and silver and crimson silck, lyned with crimson 
taffata • length, 1 yard and quarter. 

Two square cushins suteable. 



KEN XL WORTH CASTLE. 255 

A foulding chayer of black velvet, embrothered with clothe of 
goulde fringe, with black silck and goulde. A square stoole 
suteable. A long cushin of the same suite, lyned with striped 
taffata, in length 1 yard and quarter. 

Six highe stooles of wallnuttree, covered with black velvet 
quilted. A chayer, long cushin s, and loe stoole of blacke clothe 
of golde, the frame of the chayer broken. 

A lowe square stoole, covered with crimson velvet. 

Two long cushins of crimson sattin, garded with velvet. 

One long cushin of crimson velvet, lyned with red and green 
caffa. 

ITower chayers (two highe and two lowe) of green velvet, embr. 
with green sattin, suteable to the green velvet bedd ; the frames 
varnished and parcell gilte, with pomell and studds gilte. 

Chayer Stooles and Cushins. 

Power square cushins, and one little one longwise, of greene 
velvet, both sides a like, embrothered with green sattin and 
goulde like the rest, with buttons and tasselles of green silck 
and goulde. 

A chayer and lowe stoole of crymson raysed velvet, trimed with 
lace and goulde fringe. 

A chayer of crimson clothe of goulde tinsell, lyned in the back 
with purple taffata ; a square stoole suteable ; a long cushin of 
the same suite, with iiij. buttons and tassells of redd silk and 
gould, in length 1 yard 1 quarter, in breadth one yard. 

A chayer of purple clothe of silver, the back lyned with purple 
taffata, fringed with purple silck and goulde ; a square stoole 
suteable ; a long cushin of the same suite, with iiij. buttons and 
tassells of purple silck and goulde, in length 1 yard quarter, 
breadth the same. 

A chayer, the frame wrought with bone, the back and seate of 
russett clothe of silver, embr., fringed, &c, paste service. 

Two chayers of green rased velvet, the grownd tynsell, fringed 
with green silke and goulde ; the back and sides leather. 

A chayer of plaine clothe of silver, fringed with silver, the back 
and sides purple taffata ; a square stoole suteable ; a long cushin 
of the same suite, with two buttons and tassells of white silk and 
silver ; in length 1 yard quarter, in breadth one yard good. 

A chaier of brainched clothe of silver, the backside leather, and 



256 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

fringed with silver ; a square stoole suteable ; a long cushin of 
the same suite, with iiij. tassells of white silck and silver, lyned 
with white checked damask, in length 1 yard and quarter, in 
breadth 1 yard. 

A chayer of purple clothe of golde, the backside leather, and 
fringed with silck and golde ; a square stoole suteable ; a long 
cushin suteable, lyned with crimson damask, with iiij. tassells. 

A chaier of black velvet, the pomell and studds gilt, fringed 
with black silck and goulde, the back vellet, with two cheakes to 
the same. 

Three foote stooles of purple clothe of silver, fringed with 
purple silck and goulde. 

A chayer of silver tissue, fringed with white silck and silver, 
and lyned with purple taffata. 

A chayer of crimson vellet, embr. with a lyon in a wreath, &c, 
silver, with ragged staves and roses. 

A chaier of crimson silver tissue, fringed with crimson silck and 
silver, lyned with purple taffata. 

A chaier of crimson sattin, embr. with a white beare and ragged 
staves, in a wreath of silver. 

A lowe square stoole of crimson sattin, garnished with bone 
lace of gould, and fringed as the chaier. 

A long cushin of crimson sattin, embr. and garnished as the 
rest, lyned with crimson caffa. 

Two foote stooles of crimson vellet, fringed with crimson 
silck. 

A long cushion of crimson vellet, embr. with gould and silver, 
fringed with gould and red silck, and lyned with crimson damask, 
with iiij. buttons at the corners. 

A chayer, long cushin, and lowe stoole, embrothered with 
purple clothe of tynsell, fringed and tassell'd with black silck and 
silver. 

A chayre of peache-color clothe of tyssue. 

A chayer of crimson silver tyssue, fringed with crimson silck 
and silver, and lyned with purple taff. 

Two long cushins of tawnie vellet, lyned with black satin, 
fringed with tawnie silck. 

Two long cushins of redd vellett, lyned with damask, fringed 
with redd silck. 

Two long cushins, redd vellet, lyned with crimson sattin and 
fringed with silck. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 257 

A long cushin of purple clothe of silver tissue, bordered with a 
contrarie kinde of stufte, having seed perle in it, lyned with gould 
tinsell, with iiij. buttons and tassells of white silck and gould, in 
length 1 yard 3 nails, in breadth the same. 

Six cushins of redd vellett, lyned with green sattin of Bridges 
[Bruges], fringed with silck. 

A cushion, both sides redd vellet, fringed with redd silck, bor- 
dered rounde aboute with a bone lace of gould, with iiij. buttons 
and tassells of redd silcke and gould. 

One long cushin of crimson clothe of golde, lyned with blewe 
clothe of goulde and rased vellett, and peeced at the one end crim- 
son clothe of tissue, fringed with a narrowe uncutt fringe of goulde, 
with ij. buttons and tassells of purple silck and goulde. lyned 
with purple vellett, purled with gould. 

Two long cushins of crimson sattin, seamed with one open lace 
of golde and silver, lyned with blewe Bridges sattin, with iiij. 
buttons and tassells a peece. 

A cushin, both sides redd sattin, fringed with red silck, with 
iiij. buttons and tassells of red silck and goulde. 

A long cushin of needle worke, the ground crimson silck, 
wrought with flowers, &c, of gould, silver, and greene silcke, 
fringed with gould and silcke, lyned with crimson sattin, iiij. 
buttons and tassells at the corners. 

A long cushin of needle worke, wrought with knotts of sundry- 
colored silckes, fringed with yelloe and tawnie silcke, lyned with 
yelloe sattin, with iiij. buttons and tassells. 

A highe square stoole of needle worke, the frame wallnutttree, 
wrought with blew and yelloe silke, and fringed accordinglie. 

A cushin of silcke needle worke, with letters E. K. in 
goulde in the midst, fringed and tasselled with gold, silver, and 
silck of sundrie colors, lyned with crimson sattin, striped with 
goulde and silver. 

Two square cushins of needle worke crewell, lyned with 
leather. 

Two covers of chests of crimson rased vellet, layed on with a 
lace of crimson silcke and gould, fringed with a narrowe fringe 
of crimson silcke and golde. 

A chayer and lowe stoole of murrey clothe, garnished with a 
lace of copper gould and silcke. 

A chayer and lowe stoole of blewe clothe, garnished with a 
chaine lace, gold and silver copper. 

17 



258 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

A chaier and a square stoole of red clothe, garnished with 
copper gould lace. 

A chayer and lowe stoole of murrey and greene clothe, gar- 
nished with lace, greene silcke, and copper goulde ; twelve square 
cushins of blewe clothe, lyned with redd leather, and fringed with 
silck. 

Twelve square cushins of greene clothe, lyned with leather and 
fringed with silck. 

Twelve cushins of stamell ; six leather chayers. 

Twelve highe stooles of crimson vellet. 

Eight long cushins of crimson vellet checkered. 

Carpetts. 

A carpett of crimson velvet, richlie embr. with my Lo. armes ; 
posie, beares and ragged staves, &c, of clothe of gould and silver, 
garnished upon the seames and aboute with golde lace, fringed 
accordinglie ; lyned with crimson taffata sarsenett ; being iij. 
breadths of vellet, one yard 3 quarters long. 

A carpett for a cupboarde, of green vellet, embr. with sattin 
and goulde, lyned and fringed, being iiij. breadths of vellet. ij. 
yards in length. 

A carpett of crimson rased vellet, with a lace of crimson silcke 
and goulde rounde aboute it, fringed with a deepe fringe of 
crimson silcke and golde; in length 2 y. quarter, iij. breadths of 
the same vellet. 

Two carpetts of crimson vellet, lyned with buckerome, fringed 
with red silck and gould. 

One carpett of crimson vellet, lyned with buckerome, bound 
aboute with parchment lace of red silck. 

A carpett of purple vellet, lyned with purple Bridges sattin. 

A carpett for a windowe of crimson vellet, garnished on the 
one side and both ends with lace and narrowe fringe of gould, 
silver, and crimson silck, and lyned with red Bridges sattin. 

A carpett of needle worke of sundrye coulored silcks, the 
grounde sad green, with a borders of roses, and sundrie posies 
aboute it, the ground of the borders orainge tawnie ; in length 
vj. yards, in breadth j. yard 3 quarters ; given by Mr. Griffin, 
of Warr, in Septr. 1581. 

A silck carpett, straingelie wrought with naked images, gar- 
nished in sundry places with gold and perle, lyned with green 
taffata, 



KEN1LW0RTPI CASTLE. 259 



Hanginges. 

Eight peeces of flowers, beasts, and pillors, arched, in depth 
5 ells and quarter, and of different lengths, from 3 ells 3 quar- 
ters ; lyned with canvas. 

Eleaven peeces of fyne tapestrye of fforest worke, in depth 
3 ells the p'ece, and of different lengths [as in the first 
article]. 

Eight peeces of deepe hanginges, bought of the Ladye Lennox, 
all quarter-lined with canvas. 

Eight peeces of historie, quarter lyned with canvas, in depth 
5 ells, lengths from 3 ells 3 quarters to 7 ells. 

Twelve peeces of historie, 5 ells deepe, in length alltogether 
Ixvj. ells. 

Eight peeces of hangings, fforest worke, vj. ells deepe, of 
different lengths, from 3 ells 3 quarters to 7 ells. 

Sixteene peeces of gilt leather hangings, having on the topp 
the picture of a man and a woman, being all in depth iij. ells 
and quarter the peece, and in length ij. ells. 

Three peeces of gilt leather hangings of the storie of Susanna, 
paned gilte and blew, in depth iiij. ells and quarter, in length 
iiij. ells iij. quarters the peece. 

Three peeces of gilte leather hangings of the storie of the 
Prodigall Childe, paned gilte and blew, being in depth iiij. ells 
and quarter, and in length iiij. ells and 3 quarters the peece. 

Two like peeces of the storie of Saule, paned gilte and blewe, 
the one in depth iiij. ells, the other ij. ells, and both in length 
iiij. ells 3 quarters. 

Three peeces of gilt hangings of red leather, paned gilt and 
blew ; the first 6 ells in length by iiij. ells and quarter in depth ; 
the second, 5 ells 3 quarters by iiij. ells and quarter ; the third, 
7 ells by ij. 

One pair of guilt leather hangings, gilt and greene, of the 
story of Tobie ; in depth iij. ells and quarter, in length iiij. ells 
3 quarters. 

Fyve peeces of leather hangings, gilt and black ; in depth 
iiij. ells quarter, in length 5 ells. 

Efower peeces of the historie of Sawle, lyned with canvas, all 
fyve ells in depth, in length vij., v., vij., and iiij. ells. 

Six peeces of the historie of Hercules, being all in depth v. 



260 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Flemish ells 3 quarters, fower of them in length iv. ells, the 
other vj. ells and iv. ells. 

Six peeces of Lady Ffaine, &c, being all in depth vj. ells, lyned 
all through with can vis ; lengths vij., vij. 3 quarters, vj. 3 quar- 
ters, viij., viij. quarter, viij. 3 quarters. 

Six peeces of flowers and beasts, being all in depth 5 ells quar- 
ter, lyned with can vis ; lengths, three of them 5 ells 3 quarters 
each, the others v., vj., and vij. ells each. 

Efower peeces of fflowers and beasts, being in depth iiij. ells 
and a peece, all quarter-lyned with can vis; their lengths, vij. ells 
and quarter, v. 3 quarters, vj. 3 quarters, iij. 3 quarters. 

Nyne peeces of Hawking and Hunting, in depth 5 ells, all 
quarter-lyned with canvis ; two in length iij. ells 3 quarters, the 
others vij. ells, iiij., v. quarter, iiij. 3 quarters, iiij. and quarter, v. 
3 quarters, and vj. quarter. 

Seaven peeces of the storie of Jezabell, in depth 5 ells quarter, 
lyned with canvis; length of the two first, vj. ells, two others iiij. 
ells 3 quarters, v. 3 quarters, vj. 3 quarters, vij. 3 quarters. 

Eight peeces of the historie of Judith and Holofernes, six of 
them in depth 5 a ells the peece ; two of them iiij. ells 3 quarters ; 
two of them in length iiij. ells 3 quarters; two others v., vj, 3 
quarters, vij., iiij, ells scant, v. 3 quarters, iiij. ells scant. 

Eyve peeces of the storie of David, in depth 5 ells, lyned with 
canvis ; three of them in length v. ells, the fourth vj., and the 
fifth e iiij. ells. 

Six peeces of the storie of Abraham ; in depth 5 ells, all quarter 
lyned with canvis, their length vj., vij., iiij., iiij. ells and quarter. 

Eight peeces of fflowers and beasts, all in depth 5 ells, lyned 
with canvis; their lengths, two of iij. ells 3 quarters, the others 
vij., iiij. 3 quarters, vj., vj. 3 quarters, iiij. 3 quarters, v. 3 
quarters. 

Eyve peeces of the storie of Sampson, of ould stuffe ; being in 
depth iiij. ells ; two of them in length iij. ells quarter; the others 
iij., iiij. quarter, vij. 2 quarters. 

Six peeces of fflowers and beasts, in depth iiij. ells 3 quarters, 
lyned through with canvis. 

]N"yne fayre peeces of the storie of Hercules, antiques ; in depth 
vij. ells ; two are in length viij. ells, two others vij. ells and 3 
quarters, the others ix. ells quarter, xj., ix., iiij., the nynth viij. 
ells scant. 

Six peeces of the storie Hippolitus, 5 of them being in depth 



KENILWOJRTH CASTLE. 261 

5 ells the peece, the sixth iiij. ; lyned with canvis ; lengths vij. 
ells, v. 3 quarters, yj. and 3 quarters, iiij., iij., and iiij. ells and 3 
quarters. 

Eight peeces of the storie of Alexander the Great ; in depth 3 
ells the peece ; in length, two of them v. ells and 3 quarters, two 
others iij. and 3 quarters, the rest iiij. ells, vij. and 3 quarters, 
vj., v. ells. 

Six peeces of the storie of Naaman the Assyrian ; in depth 5 
ells and quarter ; in length, two of them v. ells and 3 quarters ; 
the others iiij., iij. and 3 quarters, t. scant, vj. ells and 3 
quarters. 

Eight peeces of the storie of Jacob ; in depth 5 ells and 3 
quarters ; in length, the first two iiij. ells 3 quarters ; two other 
iij. ells 3 quarters ; the others vij. 3 quarters, vj. 3 quarters, yj. 
scant, v. 3 quarters ; all quarter-lyned with canvis. 

Eight peeces of Blowers and beasts pillard ; in depth 5 ells ; in 
length, two v. ells, two iiij. ells 3 quarters, two iij. 3 quarters, the 
seventh vij. ells, the eighth vj. ells 3 quarters. 

P tower peeces of leather hangings, gilte and blacke, being in 
depth iiij. ells scant, in length v. ells scant. 

Six peeces of vardures, of very ould stufte, in depth iiij. ells 
the peece. 

A peece of hangings of red linsey wolsey, with borders and 
pillars painted, in depth ij. yards, in length xvj. yards. 

Three peeces of stamell clothe, embrothered all over with 
armes, beasts, fflowers, &c, beiug in depth iiij. ells and quarter; 
the peece in length alltogether xvij. ells and quarter, all lyned 
through with canvis. 

Turquoy Carjoetts. 

A greate Turquoy carpett, the grounde blewe, with a liste of 
yelloe at each end; being in length x. yards, inbreadthe iiij. yards 
and quarter. 

An other greate Turquoy carpett, of divers collours, with a 
frett of diverse collours in the midst; in length vij. yards 3 quar- 
ters, in breadth iij. yards quarter. 

An other greate Turquoy carpett, wrought with roses and 
Stafford knots at the ends ; in length v. yards 3 quarters, in 
breadth ij. yards and quarter. 

An other greate Turquoy carpett, with greene wreths and flowers 



262 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

of white and black, the grounde tawnie ; in length vj. yards, in 
breadth ij. yards naile. 

A fine Turquoy carpett, wrought with orient colours ; in length 
iiij. yards, breadth ij. yards. 

A Turquoy carpett of Norwiche work, in length ij. yards, in 
breadth j. yard quarter. 

Fyve Turquoy carpetts, the grounde red and blewe, with a 
green liste at each end, 4 yards by 2 yards. 

Two Turquoy carpetts of different colours, each 5 yards in 
length and ij. yards in breadth. 

An other Tuorquoy carpett of the same dimensions. 

An other Turquoy carpett, redd and blewe, with a liste of blewe 
at each end; length iij. yards iij. quarters, breadth ij. yards. 

Three Turquoye carpetts, the grounde white and garnished 
with other colours ; two yards in breadth, and of different lengths, 
from iij. yards 3 quarters to iiij. yards 3 quarters: one of them 
sent to the Queen by order of my Lord, 20th October, 1588. 

Twenty-six Turquoy carpetts, small, all of one making, be- 
tweene two ells and 3 ells a peece in length, in breadth betweene 
one ell and 1 ell 3 quarters. 

Fower other Turquoy carpetts. 

A Persian carpett, like Turquoie worke, the grounde redd ; 
length iiij. yards 3 quarters, breadth ij. yards quarter. 

Carpetts of Clothe. 

Three carpetts of stamell clothe, fringed with gouldand crimson 
silck, all of the breadth of the clothe, and in length iij. yards 
quarter, ij. yards quarter, and ij. yards quarter. 

A long carpett of blew clothe, lyned with "Bridges sattin, 
fringed with blew silck and gould ; in length vj. yards lack a 
quarter, the whole breath of the clothe. 

Six square carpetts, whereof iij. stamell, the other of greene 
clothe ; in length, one with the other, 11 yards. 

Fyve wyndowe carpetts of blew clothe, fringed with blewe 
silck on the one side, and both ends embr. with black vellet ; in 
length one yard iij. quarters the peece, in breadth one yard lack 
a naile. 

Two others of the same bredth and length, in like manner 
fringed, the one embr. with black vellet and white silck, the other 
with black vellet and yello silck. 



KEN1LW0RTH CASTLE. 263 

A square earpett of blew clothe, with like imbrotherie, fringed 
with blew silck. 

A earpett of greene clothe, fringed with greene silck and silver, 
in length ij. yards and quarter. 

A earpett of greene clothe, fringed with green silck rounde, in 
length xj. yards quarter, the full bredth of the clothe. 

Six carpetts of greene clothe, fringed with silck, for cupboards. 

Three of very darke green clothe, for cupboards, containing, 
one with another, vj. yards of broade clothe. 

Two carpetts of blew clothe and one of greene, fringed with 
silck of their own collour. 



Curtens. 

Eight windowe peeces of course vardures, of different lengths 
and bredths ; six windowe peeces of tapistrie ; two curtaines of 
crimson taff., ljned with Bridges sattin; two curtaines of green 
taff., lyned with Bridges sattin ; one of greene taff. sarsenett ; 
fower curtaines of striped Bridges sattin, of different length and 
bredths ; eight curtaines of blew Bridges sattin, of different 1. 
and b. ; two of greene Bridges sattin ; two window curtaines of 
redd, and fower of redd and greene Bridges sattin. 



Pictures. 

Two great tables of the Queenes Majesties pictures, with one 
curtaine changeable silck ; two great pictures of my Lord, in 
whole proporcion, the one in armor, the other in a sute of russett 
sattin ; with one curtaine to them. 

An other picture of my Lo., in halfe proporcion, done in black 
garments. 

The picture of St. Jerom naked, with a curtaine of silcke. 

The picture of the Lord of Arundell, 1 with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Lord Maltrevers, 2 with a curtaine. 

Two pictures of the Lord of Pembroke, 3 with curtaines. 

Two pictures of the Count Egmondt, with curtaines. 

The picture of the Queene of Scotts, with a curtaine. 

The picture of King Phillip, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Baker's Daughter. 4 

1 See note page 266. 2 Ibid. See note page 2G7- '' Ibid. 



264< KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Picture of the Duke of Eeria, 1 in clothe, whole proportion. 

The picture of Alexander Magnus, with a curtaine. 

The pictures of two Tonge Ladyes, with curtaines. 

Two pictures of Porapoea Sabina. 

The picture of Frederick Duke of Saxony, 2 without frame and 
curtaine. 

The picture of the Emperor Charles, with a curtaine. 

The picture of King Phillips Wife, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Prince of Orange, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Wife 3 of the Prince of Orange. 

The picture of the Marques of Berges, 4 with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Wife of the Marques, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Count de Home, 5 with a curtaine. 

The picture of Count Holstrate, with a curtaine. 

The picture of Monsieur Brederode, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Duke Alva, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Cardinall Granville, with a curtaine. 

The picture of the Duches of Parma, with a curtaine. 

The picture of Henrie Earl of Pembroke. 

The picture of the young Countess [Mary Sydney, niece of the 
E. of Leycester.] 

The picture of the Countis Essex, in a wainscot case. 

The picture of Occacion and Repentance. 

The picture of the Lord Mowntacute, with a curtaine. 

The picture of Sir James Crofts, 6 with a curtaine. 

The picture of Sir Walter Mildmay. 7 

The picture of Sir William Pickering, 8 in clothe, whole pro- 
portion. 

The picture of Edwin [Sandys], 2d Archbishop of York, with 
a curtaine. 

A tabell of an historie of men, women, and children, molden 
in wax. 

A little foulding table of ebanie, garnished with white bone, 
wherein are written verses with letters of goulde. 

A table of my Lords Armes. 

Eyve of the Plannetts, painted in frames. 

Twentie-three cards or maps of Countries. 

1 See note, page 267. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 

4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. c Ibid. 

7 See note page 268. 8 Ibid. 



KENILWOJEtTH CASTLE. 265 



Instruments. 

An instrument of organns, ryalls, and virginalls, covered with 
crimson velvet, and garnished with goulde lace. 

A faier pair of double virginalls. 

A ftaier pair of double virginalls, covered with black velvet. 

A cheast of vialls ; a case of Suits flewed with silver, containing 
xij. peeces. 

Three bandoracs, in a case of leather. 

Three lutes, in leather cases. 

Cabonetts. 

A cabonett of crimson sattin, richlie embr. with a device of 
hunting the stagg, in gould, silver, and silck, with iiij. glasses in 
the topp thereof, and xvj. cupps of flowers, made of golde, silver, 
and silck, in a case of leather, lyned with greene sattin of 
Bridges. 

A cabonett of purple vellett, richlie embr. with gold and silver, 
with three brainches of flowers of gold, silver, and silck, and a 
case for the same. 

A deske of redd leather, printed and gilded with a standyshe 
in it lyned with greene sattin of Bridges. 

A chess boarde of ebanie, with checkars of christall and other 
stones layed with silver, garnished with beares and ragged staves, 
and cinquefoiles of silver ; the xxxij. men likewise of christall and 
other stones sett, the one sorte in silver white, the other gilte ; 
in a case of leather, gilded and ljned with greene cotton. 

A chess-borde of bone and ebanie, with thirtie and fower men 
to it, in a leather case. 

A pair of tabells of bone inlaid, with divers colors and men to 
them, in a case of leather. 

Chestes. 

A jewel coffer, with sundrie boxes and partitions of redd 
leather, covered with fustian of ^Naples, nailed all over with yello 
nailes, barred with iron ; and iiij. locks and keies. 

Fower faier flatt Yenecian chests of wallnuttree, carved and 
gilte, with locks and keys. 

A greate redd standard, bound with iron, with lock and key. 



266 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

Nine other chests of different sizes, covered with leather and 
Naples fustian. 

A Byble covered withe redd leather gilte, with the beares and 
ragged staves printed upon it. 

Seaven Psalters Bookes, covered with redd leather. 

Candlesticks. 

A dozen pewter candlesticks of a serviceable sorte. 

One dozen and six of a second sorte. 

A dozen of a thirde sorte. 

One dozen and ij. of a fourth sorte. 

One dozen and a halfe of a fifte sorte. 

A great cestern of pewter to sett at a cupborde. 

A great brason candlestick to hang in the roofe of the house, 
verie fayer and curiuslye wrought with xxiiij. branches, xij. greate, 
and xij. of lesser size, 6 rowlers and ij. wings for [the spreade 
eagle; xxiiij. socketts for candells, xij. greater and xij. of a lesser 
sorte ; xxiiij. sawcers or candle cupps, of like proportion, to putt 
under the socketts. 

iiij. images of men and iij. of weomen, of brass, verie finelie 
and artificiallie done. 

Six candlesticks, with chaines, to hang in the roofe of the house, 
whereof 5 with 5 socketts a peece and one with 4. 

Twentie other candlesticks of sundrie sortes ; xvij. greate and 
small plates for candles, six of a lesser sorte. 

Three greate cesters to sett at cupbordes: 

A greate copper pann, to boile. 



NOTES. 

P. 263. Notes on the Pictures. Lord of Arundell was probably Henry 
Fitzalan, last Earl of Arundel. The picture is perhaps the same with that 
now at Longleat. 

P. 263. Lord Maltrevers. Only son of the above-mentioned Earl of 
Arundel, by whose death, during the lifetime of his father, the honors of the 
family devolved to the Howards, by the marriage of Thomas Duke of Norfolk 
with Mary, one of the daughters, and at length the heiress of her father, 
Henry Earl of Arundel, and of her brother, Henry Lord Maltravers. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 267 

P. 263. The Lord of Pembroke. Probably Henry Earl of Pembroke, who 
married a niece of the Earl of Leicester, Mary Sydney, daughter of Sir Henry 
Sydney by the Lady Mary Dudley. He died in 1601. 

P. 263. The Picture of the Baker's Daughter. This entry is of extreme 
interest in connexion with its most probable allusion to the same subject 
which is mentioned in the tragedy of Hamlet — " The owl was a baker's 
daughter." Is it impossible that this very picture had been seen by Shakes- 
peare, and had furnished him with the idea of introducing the subject of the 
legend, which is thus related by Douce from oral tradition : — " Our Saviour 
went into a baker's shop where they were baking, and asked for some bread 
to eat. The mistress of the shop immediately put a piece of dough into the 
oven to bake for him, but was reprimanded by her daughter, who, insisting 
that the piece of dough was too large, reduced it to a very small size. The 
dough, however, immediately afterwards began to swell, and presently became 
of a most enormous size. Whereupon the baker's daughter cried out — 
Heugh, heugh, heugh, which owl-like noise probably induced our Saviour 
for her wickedness to transform her into that bird." 1 

P. 264. The Duke of Feria. Don Gomez Saures de Figueroa y Cordova 
came into England with Phillip II, and was afterwards created Duke of Feria 
in Spain. He married Jane daughter of Sir William Dormer, Knight of the 
Bath, maid of honour to Queen Mary, and sister of the first Lord Dormer of 
Wenge. The Duke of Feria was also employed in several embassies from 
Philip to Elizabeth, in the beginning of her reign. There is a small etching 
of him noticed by Granger, half length, 12mo. 

P. 264. Frederick Duke of Saxony. This was probably the portrait of 
John Frederick the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony, the protector of Luther 
and of the Reformation, who was deprived of his dignity and liberty by the 
Emperor Charles V. He died 1554. 

P. 264. The Wife of the Prince of Orange. William, first founder of the 
Belgic liberties, had four wives (ob. assassinated 1584) : — 1. Anne of Egmont, 
ob. 1558. 2. Anne, daughter of Maurice Elector of Saxony, ob. 1579. 3. 
Charlotte de Bourbon Montpensier, ob. 1582. 4. Louisa, daughter of Gaspard 
de Coligny, Admiral of France, ob. 1620. This was probably the one whose 
portrait is noticed. 

P. 264. The Marques of Berges and the Wife of the same. I conceive 
these to have been the portraits of William, third Count of Bergen in 
Tutphen, and his countess, Mary of Xassau, sister of William Prince of 
Orange. He died 15S6 ; she survived till 1599. 

P. 264. The Count de Some. This was most probably the portrait of the 
unfortunate Count de Homes, who, with the Comte d'Egmondt, before men- 
tioned, was beheaded in 1568, by the D'Alva, in the Low Countree. 

P. 264. Sir James Crofts. "This personage was well known in the 
reign of Elizabeth, to whom he was Comptroller of the Household, and whom 

1 See also note by Wm. J. Thorns, page 269. 



268 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

he also served in repeated embassies and in other employments. He was of a 
Herefordshire family, and a portrait of him, the only one I have ever seen, 
is at Rudhall, in that connty. Margaret, the daughter and coheiress of Sir 
James Crofts, having married William Rudhall, Esq., accounts for the portrait 
being at that house." Malone notices a copy of the Rudhall portrait as being 
in the possession of Mr. Tighe. 

P. 264. Sir Walter Mildmay. Sir Walter Mildmay was Surveyor of the 
Court of Augmentations in the reign of Henry VIII, and Privy Councillor, 
Chancellor, and Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer to Elizabeth, and founder 
of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. His portrait has been engraved by 
Faber, among the Founders. 

P. 264. Sir William PicJcering. Sir William Pickering had served four 
Sovereigns with distinction in military and civil capacities. Bishop Kennett 
says that he aspired to become the husband of Elizabeth. He died in 1574, 
aged 58, and was buried in the Church of Great St. Helen's, where a splendid 
monument was erected to his memory by his four executors, Sir Thomas 
Heneage, John Astley, Sir Drue Drury, and Thomas Wotton. 

The above notes on the pictures are almost exclusively taken from some 
MS. notes signed R. S. T., attached to a transcript of the original manuscript, 
but I am unacquainted with the name of their author. 

Mr. J. G. Nichols, in his interesting preface to the Unton Inventories, 4to, 
1841, p. 10, has given a list of inventories then printed. A few important 
ones have lately been published by the Camden and Surtees Society, amongst 
which may be specially noticed the valuable volume of early Bury wills and 
inventories, edited by Mr. Tymms ; but any large collection is still a desidera- 
tum. It is almost impossible to overrate the importance of this class of 
documents, in investigating the habits of our ancestors, and the character of 
their domestic life. 1 



1 See " HalliwelV s Ancient Inventories," 4to, printed "for private circula- 
tion only," by J. E. Adlard, 1854. Of this elegantly printed volume only 
25 copies were printed, as certified by the printer. 



PICTURES 



OF THE 



GREAT EARL OE LEICESTER. 



Mr. William J. Thoms communicates to the c Notes and 
Queries 1 in 1862 a list of the pictures at Kenilworth, pre- 
facing the list bv the following observations : 



53 



" I am enabled, by the kindness of the noble lord to whom the 
MS. belongs, to lay before the readers of ' Notes and Queries ' a 
very interesting catalogue of the pictures which were in the pos- 
session of the Earl of Leicester at the time of his death, Sept. 
4, 1588. It is extracted from an inventory taken in October 
following ; and I think those who are interested in the history of 
art in England, will join me in thanking the owner of the manu- 
script for thus putting them in possession of information which 
would have gladdened the heart of Horace "Walpole," 

By comparing the list of pictures given by Mr. Thoms in 
'Notes and Queries (in 1862) with the inventory in Mr. Halli- 
well's 'Ancient Inventories' (printed in 1854), it will appear 
that they were both from the same source. Mr. Thoms was evi- 
dently not aware that his list had before been printed ; the 
circumstance that Mr. Halliwell's book was for private circulation 
only, and that not more than 25 copies had been printed, may 
probably account for this. 

At the end of the list Mr. Thoms says : " There is one picture 
in this list respecting which I would make a special query — What 
is the picture of the Baker's Daughter ? Could we suppose it to 
represent the legend to which Shakspeare refers in ' Hamlet,' 

1 ' Xotes and Queries/ 3rd series, Xo. 37, Sept. 13, 1862. 



270 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 

' The owl was a baker's daughter:' we might see in this allusion 
a recollection of one of the many visits which Shakspere doubtless 
paid to the glories of Kenilworth." In the following number 
of ' Notes and Queries,' Mr. Thorns again alludes to the same 
subject, — " Since my first communication appeared, my friend Mr. 
Henry Foss has suggested to me that the picture of the Baker's 
Daughter — of which, it will be seen, there was another copy at 
Wanstead — is the well-known Fornarina of Eaffaele ; while Mr. 
J. Gr. Nichols, judging from the pictures of Philip and the 
Baker's Daughter being together, inclines to the opinion that they 
were companions, and that the latter was a portrait of a female 
respecting whom there was scandal current during Mary's life- 
time : it being said in an old ballad that Philip loved — 

" The baker's daughter, in her russet gown, 
Better than Queen Mary without her crown/' 

Mr. Thorns has also given, in the latter number of ' Notes and 
Queries,' a list of the pictures at Leicester House and at 
Wanstead. 

Among the Burghley papers in the Lansdowne collection of 
MSS., 1 we find the following inventory and valuation of the 
hangings and carpets, which form part of the inventory of " house- 
hold stuff" given by Mr. Halliwell in his ' Ancient Inventories.' 
The paper has neither place, nor signature stated, and is merely 
indorsed — 

" Novemb. '88. — A note of hangings and carpets of the Earl of 
Leycester." 

"Hangings and Carpets belonging to Robert, Earl of Leycester:' 

£ s. d. 
Imprimis. Six pieces of the story of Hercules of 

5 ells, 3 quarters deep, containing in all 333i ells 

at 20 pence the ell ... 22 17 

8 pieces of Judith and Holofernes, 5 ells deep, 

containing in all 215^ ells at 2s. 6d. the ell . 26 17 6 
Item — 6 pieces of Flowers and Beasts, of 5 ells 

deep, containing 181 ells at 4s. the ell . . 36 5 

1 Lansdowne MSS., British Museum. Vol. 57. 



KENILWORTH CASTLE. 271 

£ s. d. 

Item — 6 pieces of Naaman tbe Syrian, 5 ells deep, 

containing 157i ells at 4s. the ell . 31 10 

Item — 8 pieces of Flowers and Beasts, 5 ells deep 

containing 215 ells at 3s. 4<d. the ell . . 35 16 S 

Item — 8 pieces of Histories, 5 ells deep, containing 

213 ells, 3qrs., at 2s. the ell . . 21 7 6 

Item — 9 pieces of Hawking and Hunting, of 5 ells 

deep, containing 230 ells, at 3s. Sd. the ell . 42 3 4 

Item — 4 pieces of Mowers and Beasts, being 4i ells 

deep, containing 106 ells, at 3s. the ell . . 15 18 

Item — 9 pieces of the Story of Hercules, antiques, 

7 ells deep, containing 533 ells, at 7s. the ell . 186 16 

Item— 8 pieces of Alexander Magnus, of 5 ells deep, 

containing in the whole 215 ells, 4s. Qd. the ell 48 7 6 

Item — 6 pieces of the Story of Hyppolitus, 5 ells 
deep, containing in all 115 ells and 3 qrs., at 
6s. Sd. the ell . . . . . 51 18 4 

Item — 7 pieces of Histories, of 5 ells deep, contain- 
ing 321| ells, at 2s. Qd. the ell . . 40 3 1 

Item — 8 pieces of the Story of Jacob, of 5 ells 3 qrs. 

deep, containing 243 ells and 3 qrs., at 4s. the ell 49 15 

Item — 6 pieces of Abraham, of 5 ells deep, contain- 
ing 153 ells 3 qrs., at 2s. 4>d. the ell . . 17 10 

Item — 5 pieces of David, of 5 ells deep, containing 

137 ells, at 2s. 8d. the ell . . IS 10 4 

Item — [ ] pieces of Flowers and Beasts, of 5 ells 

deep, containing 241 ells, at 4s. the ell . 48 4 

Item — 8 pieces of Flowers and Beasts, 5 ells deep, 

at 3s. the ell, containing 216 ells and qr. . 36 10 

Item — 7 pieces of Jezebel, of 5 ells deep, contain- 
ing 28 ells, at 2s. Sd. the ell . . 27 16 8 

Item — 8 pieces of Forest work, 6 ells deep, contain- 
ing 250|- ells, at 2s. the ell . 25 12 

Item — 8 pieces of old hangings, containing 331 ells, 

at 16d. the ell . . . . 22 16 

Item — 4 pieces of the Story of King Saul, contain- 
ing 120 ells at 2s. 6d. the ell . 15 



272 KENILWORTH CASTLE. 



Bedsteads and Beds. 



£ s. d. 



One field bedstead of crimson satin, laid on with 
rich bone lace of gold, with curtains and a coun- 
terpoint embroidered, with two chairs, two stools, 
and two long cushions for the window, with a 
curtain, a cupboard-cloth, all suitable, with a 
quilt of crimson satin embroidered all over . 70 

A field-bedstead, varnished and gilt, with the cover, 
the double vallance, the counterpoint, the bases, 
one carpet for the table, with four chairs and five 
cushions, all of green velvet, embroidered with 
guards of satin gold twist, with the chair-frames 
gilt . . . . . 40 

Item — One rich square bed, embroidered with the 
Queen's Arms, which was sometime King Henry 
the Seventh's, with counterpoint and curtains 
to the same . . . , 30 

Item — One field bed of scarlet, with the tops and 
vallance embroidered all over with crimson silk 
and gold. The curtains with guards suitable to 
the same, with one quilt, &c, with one chair, 
two stools, and one long cushion striped . 25 

Item — 12 Quarters featherbeds, at £4 the bed, 

Item — 11 Quarters featherbeds, at £3 10s. the piece. 

Item — 10 Quarters featherbeds, 505. the piece. 

Item — 9 Quarters featherbeds, at 26s. Sd. the piece. 

Great window-curtains of satin of bridges [Bruges], 
6 at 20s. a piece .... 

Long needlework cushions, at 30s. a piece . 

Twenty pair of down pillows, at 10s. a pair . 

Andirons 4 pair, with fire-shovel and tongs, suitable 

to them . . . . .400 

Two pair of bellows of walnut-tree carved, at 2s. 

a pair . . . . . .040 

Close stools, 10 at 10s. a piece . . .500 

Corsletts 1 .... 60 

1 Query, 60 in number, not £60. 



Q 








4 


10 















K EN IL WORTH CASTLE. 



273 



Carpets. 

A Turkey carpet, 10 yards long, and 4 yards broad 
A Turkey carpet, 7 yards long, 4 yards broad 
A Turkey carpet, 5 yards long, 2-§- yards broad 
A Turkey carpet, 4^ yards long, 2\ yards broad 
A Turkey carpet of 3|- yards long, 2\ yards broad 
A Turkey carpet of 4-| yards long, 2-| yards broad 
A Turkey carpet of 3i yards long, 2\ yards long 

[broad] ..... 
20 Turkey carpets for Court cupboards, at 13s. 4^, 

1^ yard broad .... 
A fair needlework carpet, 7 yards long, lined with 

green satin . 



£ 


s. 


d. 


20 








15 








5 








4 


10 





3 


10 





4 


10 






3 10 



13 6 



13 8 



Exr> or History of Ejenilworth Castle. 



18 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 




: 






MEMOIES AND CORRESPONDENCE 

OF 

SIR ROBERT DUDLEY, 

(SON OF THE EARL OF LEICESTER^ 
WITH HIS 

PROPOSITION TO BRIDLE THE IMPERTINENCE OF 
PARLIAMENTS 

SUBMITTED TO JAMES I. 

TOGETHER, WITH A SHOET ACCOUNT OF 

ALICE, DUCHESS DUDLEY, 

SECOND WIFE OF SIR ROBERT. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY, 

SOX OF THE EARL OF LEICESTER. 



Douglas, Lady Sheffield, mother of Sir Robert Dudley, 
born about 1545, was the daughter of "William Howard, first 
Lord Howard of Effingham, and Lord Admiral, who was the 
youngest son of Thomas, 2d Duke of Norfolk. She married 
Lord Sheffield about 1561 or 62, by whom she had a son, 
created by Charles I. Earl of Mulgrave. Lord Sheffield died 
Deer. 1568. Douglas was married to the Earl of Leicester in 
May, 1573. Dugdale says they were privately married 
in a house in Cannon Row, and two years afterwards, the 
ceremony was again more solemnly performed " in her 
chamber at Asher (or Esher) in Surrey, by a lawful minister, 
according to the form of matrimony by law established in 
the Church of England, in the presence of Sir Edward 
Horsey, Knight, that gave her in marriage, as also of Robert 
Sheffield, Esq., and his wife, Dr. Julio, Henry Erodsham, 
gentleman, and five other persons whose names are not spe- 
cified.^ Two days after the first or secret marriage she was 
brought to bed of a boy, who was born at Sheen, now Rich- 
mond, and t( there christened by a minister sent from Sir 
Henry Lee, having to his godfathers the Earl of Warwick 
and Sir Henry Lee, and to his god-mother the Lady Dacres, 
of the South, by their deputies." It is said that she received 
a letter from Leicester in which " he thanked God for the 
birth of his said son, who might be their comfort and staff of 
their old age," — and that he subscribed himself her " Loving 
Husband." 



280 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

It has been stated that there was besides a daughter 
born at Dudley Castle ; but of this we have no authentic 
account. Lady Sheffield, in 1578, married Sir Edward 
Stafford, of Grafton. In the same year Leicester married 
Lady Lettice, the widow of Walter, Earl of Essex, and 
daughter of Sir Francis Knolles, who after his death married 
Sir Christopher Blount. 1 

Mary, sister of Douglas, Lady Sheffield, was the third wife 
of Edward, Lord Dudley, after whose death she married 
Richard Mompesson. 

From another account we have the following : 
Sir Robert Dudley, son to the Earl of Leicester, by 
the Lady Douglas Sheffield, was born at Sheen, 2 in Surrey, in 
the year 1573. His birth was carefully concealed, in order 
to prevent the Queen's knowledge of the EarFs engagement 
with his mother. He was, however, considered and treated 
as his lawful son till the EarFs marriage with the Countess 
Dowager of Essex, when he was about five years of age ; and 
then he was declared to be only his natural issue by Lady 
Douglas. Out of her hands the Earl was very desirous to 
get him, in order to put him under the care of Sir Edward 
Horsey, Governor of the Isle of Wight ; which some have 
imagined to have been done, not with any view to the child's 
disadvantage, whom he is said to have always loved tenderly, 
but with a view of bringing him upon the stage at some 
proper time, as his natural son by another lady. He was 
not, however, able to get him for some time; but at last 
effecting it, he sent him to school at Offington, near Worthing, 
in Sussex, in 1583. His uncle, the Earl of Warwick, had a 
seat near Worthing, still standing, and bearing the name of 
' Warwick House/ At this school he was under the care of 
one Owen Jones, to whom, upon a certain occasion, the Earl 
is said to have expressed himself to this purpose. (i Owen, 
thou knowest that Robin, my boy, is my lawful son ; and as 
I do, and have charged thee, to keep it secret, so I charge 

1 See Dugdale's 'Warwickshire/ i, 250; 'Baronage,' ii, 262; 'Romance of 
the Peerage,' vol. iii, 1849. 

2 Sheen, now Richmond, near London. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 281 

thee not to forget it ; and, therefore, see thou be careful of 
him." After remaining four years in this private school he 
was removed, in 1587, to the University of Oxford, and there 
entered of Christ Church by the style of " Comitis Filius, " i. e. 
an Earl's son. l In about a year after he came to the Uni- 
versity, and when he was about the age of fifteen, his father 
died, leaving him, after the decease of his uncle Ambrose, 
Earl of Warwick, his uoble castle of Kenilworth, and the 
Lordships of Denbigh and Chirk, and the bulk of his estate, 
which, before he was of age, he in a good measure enjoyed, 
notwithstanding the enmity borne him by the Countess 
Dowager of Leicester. 

ee He was not slow, however, in assuming the man. Nature 
had given him great activity of mind and quickness of faculty ; 
he was to an unusual extent his own master, and free from 
all the ordinary restraints and entanglements. All the pecu- 
liar circumstances of his birth and position impelled an 
ardent, projecting, and ambitious spirit like his to seek dis- 
tinction, and to seek it out of the common path. Perhaps it 
may have been his uncle Warwick who first turned his young 
imagination to the field of maritime adventure and discovery ; 
that nobleman had been among the earliest patrons of the 
famous Frobisher, and no doubt had often told his listening 
nephew the story of the black stones which the great navi- 
gator brought home from his first expedition in search of the 
north-west passage, and which had afterwards thrown the 
nation into such a ferment, when one of them, having been 
accidentally cast on the fire, had blazed forth, not with the 
flame of a common coal, but with the glitter of gold. 2 

" He was at this time looked upon as one of the finest gen- 
tlemen in England; in his person tall and well shaped, having 
a fresh and fine complexion, but red-haired; learned beyond 
his age, more especially in the mathematics ; and of parts 
equal, if not superior, to any of his family. Add to all this, 
that he was very expert in his exercises, and particularly in 

1 In ' Xichols's Leicestershire ' it is stated that he was educated under Sir 
Thomas Cbaloner, the accomplished governor of Prince Henry. 

2 Craik's 'Romance of the Peerage,' vol. iii. 



282 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

riding the great horse, in which he was allowed to excel any 
man of his time. 

" His genius prompting him to great exploits, and having 
a particular turn to navigation and discoveries, he projected 
a voyage into the South Seas, in hopes of acquiring the 
same fame thereby as his friend the famous Thomas Caven- 
dish, whose sister, it is said, he had married. 

The following, in a measure, corroborates the inference of 
the marriage having taken place : 

[1592-3.] "At St. James's, 18 March, 1592. 

" A letter to the Mayor and Officers of the Port of Ports- 
mouth. Whereas Mr. Bobert Dudley Esq. hath taken a letter 
of Administration of the goods of Thomas Cavendish Esq. lately 
deceased at the seas. These shall be, notwithstanding any former 
letters written from the G-alleon Leicester and the Roebuck, two 
ships that did appertain to the said Mr. Cavendish, to require you 
to cause the said ships, with their lading, to be delivered to Mr. 
Dudley, or such as he shall appoint to receive the same. Wherein 
we require you to give the gentleman your best help and assist- 
ance, &c, &C." 1 

" But, after he had taken much pains and spent a great 
deal of money in preparation for this design, the Government 
would not suffer him to proceed, looking upon it as a danger- 
ous voyage, in which they thought it not fit to hazard the 
lives of the Queen's subjects. However, notwithstanding 
this disappointment, he fitted out a small squadron for the 
river Oronoko and the coasts adjacent, of which he took the 
command in person. An account of this voyage, written by 
himself, is published in Hakluyt's collection, 2 entitled, ' A 
Voyage of the Honourable Gentleman, Mr. Robert Dudley, 
now Knight, to the Isle of Trinidad and the Coast of Paria/ 
1 Having ever/ he commences his narrative, ( since I could 
conceive of anything, been delighted with the discoveries of 
navigation, I fostered in myself that disposition till I was of 

1 Privy Council Registers, Elizabeth, vol. ii. 
- ' Hakluyt,' vol. iii, pp. 574-7. 1600. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 283 

more years and better ability to undertake such a matter. To 
this purpose I called to me the . advice of sufficient seamen, 
and principally undertook a voyage for the South Seas ; but, 
by reason that many before had miscarried in the like enter- 
prise, I could not be suffered to hazard more of her Majesty's 
subjects upon so uncertain a ground as my desire, which 
made me by constraint (great charges already by me de- 
frayed) to prepare another course for the West Indies/ But 
upon that, he says, he had set out ' without hope there to do 
anything worth note/ Such a voyage was become so com- 
mon, indeed, as not to be worth the registering. It was only 
Hakluyt's importunity that had prevailed with him to send 
his journal to fill any vacant space that might be left by more 
important discourses, In making provision for the enter- 
prise, he had had in view rather ' some practice and experience 
than any wonders or profit/ 

" The adventure was noteworthy for one thing, at least — - 
the youth of the conductor, Dudley, when he set out upon 
this enterprise, would be scarcely one and twenty, if he was 
so old, They weighed anchor from Southampton Road on 
the 6th of November, 1594; himself in the ( Bear/ of two 
hundred tons, as Admiral, and Captain Monk in the c Bear's 
whelp' as Vice-Admiral ; two small pinnaces, the i Frisking' 
and the ' Earwig/ accompanying them. Dudley had 140 men 
under his own command in the " Bear/' He was soon left 
to pursue his way alone, his Vice-Admiral, before they had 
been many days out at sea, having made two prizes (Spaniards), 
with which it was thought best that he should return to Eng- 
land. Under Teneriffe Dudley also captured two caravels, 
having previously, however, lost one of his two pinnaces. 
On reaching the coast of South America they waited some 
time for Sir Walter Raleigh. It seems to have been arranged 
that they should meet there; but Raleigh did not sail from 
Plymouth till after the beginning of February, 1595, and did 
not reach the South American coast till six or eight weeks 
after the time when Dudley expected him. Upon his not 
making his appearance Dudley determined to return home. 
By this time he was, he says, worse manned by half than he 



284 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

went forth. In fact he had only fifty men left. With this 
small crew, however, he maintained a fight of two days with 
a great Spanish armada of 600 tons ; and though he did not 
succeed in compelling her to strike, yet left her, at 300 
leagues from land, in such a state as that it was apparently 
impossible for her to escape sinking. He afterwards heard 
that the ship, which was said to have been very rich, had 
actually gone down. Our adventurers, or the few of them 
that survived, regained their native country in the latter end 
of May, 1595, landing at St. Ives, in Cornwall. 'In this 
voyage/ says Dudley, c I and my fleet took, sunk, and burnt 
nine Spanish ships, which was loss to them, though I got 
nothing/ 

" It was the special command of the Queen which put a 
stop to Dudley's South Sea project; and it was not without 
some difficulty that her Majesty was brought to consent even 
to the West Indian voyage. She would have had ' this noble 
gentleman' to remain in quiet at home till he was of riper 
years, not doubting but that time and experience would work 
a most excellent perfection in one whom nature had so 
singularly endowed. l 

" In the following year he fitted out two ships and two pin- 
naces for the South Seas, under command of Capt. Benjamin 
Wood, at his own expense ; and attending the Earl of Essex 
and the Lord High Admiral in their expedition against the 
Spaniards, he received the honour of Knighthood for his 
gallant behaviour at the taking of Cadiz. In the latter end 
of Queen Elizabeth's reign, having buried his first wife, he 
married Alice, the daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh. He then 
began to entertain hopes of reviving the honours of his family ; 
and in the beginning of the reign of King James I. he com- 
menced a suit in the Archbishop of Canterbury's Court of 
Audience, with a view of proving the legitimacy of his birth ; 
and the plague being then at London, he obtained a com- 
mission directed to Dr. Zachary Babington, Chancellor of 
the Diocese of Litchfield, to examine witnesses on that head, 
which was accordingly done. 

1 Craik's ' Romance of the Peerage/ vol. iii. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 285 

The following letter to his Father's Secretary, Arthur Atye, 
has reference to these proceedings : 

[1605.] " Sir Robert Dudley to Arthur Atye. 2d Nov., 1C05. 1 

" Mr. Atye, 

" I remember my best love unto you as to one of the truest 
lovers of my father, and me for his sake. 

" I am sure you hear of my proceeding to prove my legitimation 
and the Council's authority for me to proceed in the Court of 
Arches ; for as much as I understood by Mr. Barker's deed that 
you were acquainted with an instrument my father made, of this 
last reputed marriage, under the hands and seals and oathes of 
them that were at it, and it is thought that he might procure 
sentence of the same secretly from Doctor Aubrey to colour 
aught better which afterwards he seriously repented that matter. 
Now because this point being known, is of little effect ; a mar- 
riage proved good before it, yet not known, might do harm in 
proceeding, wherefore I pray you most earnestly that you will 
acquaint this bearer, Mr. Ward, my proctor, with your directions 
therein, of the substance of the deed ; and if there were sentence, 
in what kind, and what parties made, and about what years to be 
sought for. This courtesy I desire most earnestly from you, as 
one I desire to love as nearly as my father did. I know you 
refused my father to be any actor in this matter, but in his near- 
ness to you, he acquainted you with it, which was not to be 
avoided. So resting most assured of your love to me, I commit 
you to your happiest desires. 

"From Stoneleigh, this 2d of November, 1605. 

" Your very faithful friend, 

" Eo. DUDDELEY. 
(Superscribed) 

" To my most especial friend 

Mr. Arthur Atye, give these, at his house at Kilhorne, 
or elsewhere.'" 2 

1 Arthur Atye was secretary to Dudley's father, the Earl of Leicester. In 
the burial register of St. Dunstan's in the West, London, we find the fol- 
lowing — 

" 160-4. Sir Arthur Atye, Knight, out of Shire Lane, Secretary to the 
Great Earl of Leicester, attendant on the unfortunate Earl of Essex." Also — 
" Xeare the Glohe in Sheer Lane " lived Elias Ashmole, the Antiquary. 

2 Lansdowne MSS., 89. 



286 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

" But no sooner had Lettice, Countess of Leicester, notice 
of these proceedings, than she procured an information to be 
filed by Sir Edward Coke, the King's Attorney- General, in 
the Star Chamber, against Sir Robert Dudley, Sir Thomas 
Leigh, Dr. Babington, and others, for a conspiracy ; and upon 
the petition of Lord Sydney, an order, issued out of that 
Court, for bringing in all the depositions that had been taken 
by virtue of the Archbishop's commission, sealing them up, 
and depositing them in the Council chest. In order, how- 
ever, to keep up some appearence of impartiality, Sir Robert 
Dudley was allowed to examine witnesses as to the proofs of his 
legitimacy, in that Court ; which, when he had done, in as full 
a manner as in such a case could be expected, a sudden order 
was issued for stopping all proceedings, and locking up the 
examinations, of which no copies were to be taken but by the 
King's license. 

" This unfair proceeding was such a blow to the hopes of 
Sir Robert Dudley, and gave him such disgust, that, obtain- 
ing a license to travel for three years, 1 which was easily 
granted him, he quitted the kingdom, leaving behind him 
Alice Dudley his wife, and four daughters. 2 He did not, how- 
ever, go abroad without a female, for, as he inherited some of 
the vices, as well as most of the great qualities of his ances- 
tors, he prevailed upon a young lady, at that time esteemed 
one of the finest women in England, to bear him company 
in the habit of a page. The name of this lady was Elizabeth 
Southwell; and she was daughter to Sir Robert Southwell, 
of Woodrising, in Norfolk. He was afterwards married to 
her by virtue of a dispensation from the Pope. 3 

" Though Sir Robert Dudley had a license to travel for 

2oth Jane, 1605. 

1 1605. "A license for Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, to travel beyond the 
seas for three years next after his departure, with three servants, four geldings 
or nao-s, and £80 in money, with usual provision. Dated at Greenwich the 
25th of June, 1605. Procured by Sir Thomas Lake." — Privy Council Register. 

2 Sir Robert had by his wife Alice, seven daughters. In 1616, five were 
living, and four grown to woman's estate. — [Letter of Sir Thomas Leigh, in 
State Paper Office, London.'] 

3 A sister of hers married Sir Grevil Vcrney, of Warwickshire. 



SIK ROBERT DUDLEY. 287 

three years, yet, under a pretence of his assuming, in foreign 
countries, the title of Earl of Warwick, he was in a short time 
commanded to return home. 

" 2nd February, 1606-7. 
[1607.] " A form of revocation of a pass, Sir JRobert Dudley 
from foreign parts. 1 

" James, by the grace of Grod, King of England, Scotland, 
Erance, and Ireland, Defender of the Eaith, &c. To our subject 
Robert Dudley, Knight, greeting. Whereas, we, out of our 
special favour, did grant you license to travel out of our realm of 
England into foreign parts, in hope that you might thereby prove 
the better enable to the service of us and our State, as you pre- 
tended, we do now certainly understand that contrary wise in 
those parts you do bear and behave yourself inordinately, and 
have intended and attempted many things prejudicial to us and 
our crown, which we cannot suffer or endure. We do, therefore, 
by these presents, will and straightly charge and command you, 
upon your faith and allegiance, and upon the pain of all that you 
may forfeit unto us, that forthwith upon the receipt and under- 
standing thereof, you do, all excuses and pretences set apart, 
make your personal repair and return into this our realm of 
England with all speed, and that presently upon your arrival 
here, you do yield and render your body to some of our Privy 
Council, to the intent we may be truly advertised of the day and 
time of your return, and hereof fail you not, as you will answer 
the contrary at your uttermost peril. Given under our Privy 
Seal at our palace of Westminster, the second day of February, 
in the fourth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, 
and of Scotland the fortieth. 

" (Signed) Thomas Clekke." 2 

" To our subject Robt. Dudley, Kt." 

" On his refusing to obey, his whole estate was seized 
during his life by the Crown. A few years after, his right to 
the magnificent castle of Kenilworth, with the manors adjoin- 
ing, were purchased, in consequence of an agreement with 
him, by Henry, Prince of Wales, for £14,500, of which, 

1 Apparently the original draft. - State Paper Office. 



288 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

though much less than the value, but £3000 was ever paid, 
and that to a merchant, who soon after failed. 

" The place which Sir Robert Dudley chose for his retreat 
abroad was Florence, where he was very kindly received by 
Cosmo II., Grand Duke of Tuscany; and in process of time 
he was made Grand Chamberlain to his Serene Highnesses 
consort, the Archduchess Magdalen of Austria, sister to the 
Emperor, Ferdinand II., with whom he was a great favorite. 
He discovered in that Court those great abilities for which he 
had been admired in England. He contrived several methods 
of improving shipping, introduced new manufactures, excited 
the merchants to extend their foreign commerce, and, by 
other services of still greater importance, obtained so high a 
reputation, that, at the desire of his mistress, the Arch- 
duchess, the Emperor, by letters patent dated at Vienna, 
March 9th, 1620, created him a Duke of the Holy Roman 
Empire. Upon this he assumed his grandfather's title of 
Northumberland ; and ten years after got himself enrolled by 
Pope Urban VIII. among the Roman nobility. Under the 
reign of the Grand Duke, Ferdinand II. he became still more 
famous, on account of that great project which he formed of 
draining a vast tract of morass between Pisa and the sea ; for 
by this he raised Livorno or Leghorn from a mean and piti- 
ful place into a large and beautiful town ; and, having en- 
gaged his Serene Highness to declare it a free port, he, by 
his influence, drew many English merchants to settle and set 
up houses there. In consideration of his services, and for the 
support of his dignity, the Grand Duke bestowed upon him a 
handsome pension, which, however, went but a little way in 
his expenses, for he affected magnificence in all things ; built 
a noble palace for himself and his family at Florence, and 
much adorned the Castle of Carbello, three miles from that 
capital, which the Grand Duke gave him for a country retreat, 
and where he died in September, 1649. 

" Sir Robert Dudley was not only admired by princes, but 
also by the learned ; among whom he held a very high rank, 
as well on account of his skill in philosophy, chemistry, and 
physic, as his perfect acquaintance with all the branches of 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 289 

the mathematics, and the means of applying them for the 
service and benefit of mankind. He wrote several things. 
His principal work is ' Del Arcano, del Mare/ &c., Fiorenze, 
1630, 1646, in 3 vols, folio. This work, which is very scarce, 1 
is full of schemes, charts, plans, and other marks of its author's 
mathematical learning ; but it is chiefly valuable for the pro- 
jects contained therein for the improvement of navigation and 
the extension of commerce. Anthony Wood tells us that he 
wrote also a medical treatise, entitled c Catholicon/ which 
was well esteemed by the faculty. There is also another 
piece written by him, the title of which, as it stands in Rush- 
worth, runs thus : — f A proposition for his Majesty's service, 
to bridle the impertinence of Parliaments. Afterwards 
questioned in the Star Chamber/ 

This proposition or treatise was written by Sir Robert 
Dudley in 1612, and was sent by him to Sir David Foulis, to 
be presented to Prince Henry, with the view of ingratiating 
himself with King James, and procuring a pardon, so that he 
might return to England. A copy of this Proposition or 
Treatise, with the letter to Sir David, which accompanied it, 
is here given, 2 from the originals in the State Paper Office, 
dated from Florence, 14 Nov. 1612. Prince Henry, however, 
had previously died, viz. on the 6th of the same month. 

It does not appear whether the paper was presented to the 
King; but in the year 1629 considerable commotion was 
excited by copies being found in circulation, one of which, in 
the possession of Sir Robert Cotton, had been borrowed by 
Mr. St. John, of Lincoln's Inn; and being afterwards shown 
to several persons, it was reported to the Privy Council, who 
thereupon instituted an inquiry, and Mr. St. John was 
charged with being the author. This led to the apprehension 
of Sir Robert Cotton, the Earls of Clare, Somerset, and Bed- 
ford, Mr. John Selden, and Mr. Oliver St. John, to answer 
for the same in the Court of Star Chamber. An interesting 
account of this is given in Sir Simond Dewes's Journal, copy 
of which is here given, 3 together with the proceedings in the 
Star Chamber, from the MSS. in the State Paper Office. 

1 Two copies are in the British Museum. 

2 See pages 295 et seq. 3 See pages 291 et seq. 

39 



290 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

The proceedings were, however, suddenly stopped, and the 
defendants discharged by the King, on the joyful occasion of 
the birth of his son Charles, afterwards Charles II., and not, 
as has been stated by several writers, on the discovery of the 
true author. 

The imprisonment of Sir Robert Cotton, with the depriva- 
tion of the use of his library, is said to have killed him. He 
died 6 May, 1631. 

This treatise of Dudley's was afterwards printed and pub- 
lished in 1641, immediately after the execution of the Earl of 
Strafford, attributing it to the pen of that nobleman, under 
the title of " Strafford's Plot Discovered and the Parliament 
vindicated in their justice executed upon him, by the late dis- 
covery of certain propositions delivered to his Majesty by the 
Earl of Strafford a little before his trial, with this inscription 
— 'Propositions for the Bridling of Parliaments, and for the 
increasing of His Majesty's Revenue.' " 

Sir Robert Dudley was also the author of a famous powder, 
called u Pulvis comitis Warwicensis, or the Earl of Warwick's 
powder," he being known in Italy by the title of Earl of 
Warwick, before the Emperor created him a Duke. 

Sir Robert Dudley, as he was styled in England, or the 
Duke of Northumberland, as he was styled abroad, had by 
the daughter of Sir Robert Southwell (who went into Italy 
with him in the habit of a page, and to whom he was after- 
wards married, as we before observed) a son, named Charles, 
who assumed the title of Earl of Warwick, and four daughters, 
who were all honorably married in Italy, viz. the eldest to the 
Prince of Piombino, the second to the Marquis of Clivola, 
the third to the Duke of Castilion del Lago, and the fourth 
to the Count of Carpegna, brother to the Cardinal of that 
name. The son Charles inherited the title as Duke of 
Northumberland, and is stated to have married, in France, 
Mary Magdalen Gouffier, of the family of the Duke of Roha- 
net, and by her to have had many children. His eldest son, 
Robert, went by the name of the Earl of Warwick, as he 
himself had done during his father's life-time. One of his 
daughters married the Marquis of Palliotti, of Bologna, and 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 291 

was by him the mother of a son and daughter, who both 
found their way back to the native country of their great 
grandfather, in the beginning of the next century, and figure 
diversely in the romance of our English family history of that 
period ; the lady dying Duchess of Shrewsbury, her brother 
on the gallows at Tyburn. 

Charles, 12th Earl (and only) Duke of Shrewsbury, married 
Adelhida, daughter of the Marquis of Paliotti, of Bologna, in 
Italy, descended by her mother from Sir Robert Dudley, son 
of Robert, " Earl of Leicester/' 1 

As to this lady of Sir Robert Dudley (Elizabeth South- 
well), though her following him into Italy, when he had 
another wife, justly exposed her to much censure, yet her 
conduct was in other respects without exception; and as she 
lived in honour and esteem, and had all the respect paid her 
that her title of Duchess could command, so it is said that 
Sir Robert loved her with great tenderness to the last, and 
caused a noble monument to be erected to her memory in the 
Church of St. Pancratius, in Florence, where her body lies 
buried, and he by her. She died some years before her hus- 
band. He had caused a sumptuous marble monument to be 
erected over her grave, in the intention that, when his own 
funeral came to be celebrated, his remains should be deposited 
beside hers. 2 

Sir Robert Dudley and his Tract in MS., " Proposi- 
tions FOR THE BRIDLING OF PARLIAMENTS," &C 

Sir Simon D'Ewes's journal contains the following in refer- 
ence to Sir Robert Cotton being accused of having written a 
book of a dangerous tendency, and imprisoned : 

[1631, May.] " Amongst other Books, he (Richard James, Fellow 
of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and custodian of Sir Robert 
Cotton's library,) lent out, — one Mr. St. John, of Lincoln's Inn, 
a young studious gentleman, borrowed of him, for money, a daD- 

1 Collins's 'Peerage.' 

2 From the "British Biography/' published in Dodsley's 'Annual Register 
for 1768 '; ' Romance of the Peerage,' by George Lillie Craik, vol. iii, 1849, 
and Collins's ' Peerage.' 



292 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

gerous pamphlet that was in a written hand, by which a course was 
laid down how the Kings of England might oppress the liberties 
of their subjects, and forever enslave them and their posterities. 
Mr. St. John showed the book to the Earl of Bedford, or a copy 
of it : and so it passed from hand to hand, in the year 1629, till 
.at last it was lent to Sir Robert Cotton himself, who set a young 
fellow l he then kept in his house to transcribe it ; which plainly 
proves that Sir Robert knew not himself, that the written tract 
had originally come out of his own library. This untrusty fellow 
imitating, it seems, the said James, took one copy secretly for 
himself, when he wrote another for Sir Robert ; and out of his 
own transcript, sold away several copies, till at last one of them 
came into Wentworth's hands of the North, 2 now Lord Deputy 
of Ireland. He acquainted the Lords and others of the Privy- 
Council, with it. They sent for the said young fellow, and examin- 
ing him where he had the written tract, he confessed Sir Robert 
Cotton delivered it to him. Whereupon in the beginning of 
November in the same year, 1629, Sir Robert was examined ; and 
so divers others, one after the other, as it had been delivered 
from hand to hand, till at last, Mr. St. John himself was ap- 
peached, and being conceived to have been the author of the 
book, was committed close prisoner to the Tower, being in danger 
to have been questioned for his life about it. Upon his exami- 
nation upon oath, he made a clear, full and punctual declaration, 
that he had received the same MS. pamphlet 3 of that wretched 
mercenary fellow, James, who by this means proved the wretched 
instrument of shortening the life of Sir Robert Cotton ; for he 
was presently thereupon sued in the Star-chamber, his library 
locked up from his use, and two or more of the guard set to watch 

! Sir Simond D'Ewes says it was affirmed, " that this young fellow, whom 
Sir Robert kept in his house, and had employed to transcribe the said written 
tract, was his illegitimate son." 

2 At the period here spoken of, the great champion of the House of Com- 
mons for the liberties of the people. It is singular enough that shortly after 
he was beheaded, this very tract, having lain in his study from the year 1629, 
was turned against himself, he being charged as the author of it, in a treatise, 
entitled, " Strafford's Plot discovered, and the Parliament vindicated in their 
justice executed upon him, by the late discovery of certain Propositions de- 
livered to his Majesty by the Earl of Strafford, a little before his trial, with 
the inscription, " Proposition for the bridling of Parliaments." 

3 This very curious pamphlet may be found in ' Rushworth/ vol. i, App., 
p. 12. Howell's ' State Trials,' and on pp. 295-7 of the present work. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 293 

his house continually. When I went several times to visit and 
comfort him, in the year 1630, he would tell me, " they had 
broken his heart, and had locked up his library from him." I 
easily guessed the reason, because his honor and esteem were 
much impaired by this fatal accident ; and his house, that was 
formerly frequented by great and honorable personages, as well 
as by learned men of all sorts, remained now upon the matter, 
desolate and empty. I understood from himself and others, that 
Dr. Neale and Dr. Laud, two prelates that had been stigmatised 
in the first session of Parliament in 1628, were his sore enemies. 
He was so outworn, within a few months, with anguish and grief, 
as his face, which had been formerly ruddy and well colored, 
(such as the picture I have of him shows) was wholly changed 
into a grim blackish paleness, near to the resemblance and hue 
of a dead visage." 

" It may be necessary, in order to elucidate this matter still 
further, to take notice, that one of the articles in the Attorney 
General's information against Sir Robert Cotton, was, that the 
discourse or project was framed and contrived within five or six 
months past here in England ; but Sir David Eoulis testified, 
upon oath, being thereunto required, that it was contrived at 
Florence, seventeen years before, by Sir Robert Dudley, son of 
the famous Robert Dudley, Earl of Leycester, by the Lady 
Douglas Sheffield, widow of John, Lord Sheffield, who at the time 
of his birth, in 1573, and for some years after, was considered as 
the Earl's lawful son, though he was carefully concealed, as well 
to prevent the Queen's knowledge of the Earl's engagement with 
his mother, as to hide it from the Countess Dowager of Essex, to 
whom Leycester w r as then contracted, if not married. But when 
this son was about five years of age, his father married the 
Countess openly, and thereupon Robert was no longer treated 
as his lawful child. The Earl died while his son was at Oxford 
in 1583 ; and at his leaving the University he was deservedly 
looked upon as one of the most accomplished men in England, 
his parts, being not only equal, but superior to those of any of 
his family. In 1591, he fitted out a small squadron at his own 
expense, and went on an expedition to the West Indies, where 
he sunk and took nine Spanish ships, and performed much more 
than could have been expected. An account of this voyage is 
published by Hakluyt, (Voy. Vol. 3, p. 574) to whom Mr. Dudley 
gave it. In 1595 he was knighted by the Earl of Essex, for his 



294 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

gallant behaviour at the siege of Cadiz. In the beginning of 
King James's reign, having some years before married Alice, 
daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh, and gained by this marriage some 
powerful friends, he endeavoured to prove the legitimacy of his 
birth ; which no doubt would have been authenticated, had not 
all proceedings been stopped and the examinations locked up, by 
the influence of the Countess Dowager of Leycester. Upon this, 
Sir Eobert, in disgust left the Kingdom ; and as he inherited 
some of the vices, as well as most of the great qualities of his 
ancestors, he took with him, disguised as a Page, (his wife being 
living,) a young lady of distinguished beauty, the daughter of Sir 
Eobert Southwell, of Norfolk. This lady, by the Pope's dispen- 
sation, he afterwards married, and in every other respect her 
conduct was irreproachable. She lived in honour and esteem, 
and died truly lamented by her husband, by whom she left a 
numerous issue, and who erected a noble tomb to her memory in 
the Church of St. Pancrace T in Florence. His other wife, Alice, 
and four daughters, remained in England. Though he had a 
license to travel for three years, yet under a pretence of his 
assuming in foreign countries, the title of Earl of Warwick, he 
was in a short time, commanded to return home; and on his 
refusing to obey, his whole estate was seized, during his life, by 
the Crown. A few years after, his magnificent castle of Kenil- 
worth with the manors adjoining, was purchased by Henry, 
Prince of Wales for £14,500, of which, though much less than 
its value, but £3,000 was ever paid, and that to a merchant, who 
soon after failed. Sir Eobert was so well received at Elorence 
that he resided there for the remainder of his life, though, to 
ingratiate himself with King James, and to facilitate his return, 
he drew up the scheme above mentioned. But though he failed 
in this, foreign Princes saw, and rewarded his merits. The Arch- 
Duchess Magdalen of Austria, then Eegent of Tuscany, made him 
her Grand Chamberlain. In 1620, her brother, the Emperor, 
Eerdinand II., at her desire, gave him that rank to which he was 
entitled, by creating him a Duke of the Holy Eoman Empire, 
upon which he assumed his grandfather's title of Northumberland ; 
and in 1630, he was enrolled by Pope Urban VIII. amongst the 
Roman nobility. Under the reign of the Grand Duke, Eerdinand 
II., he became still more famous for his useful projects for im- 
proving shipping, manufactures and commerce, and particularly 
1 So his son informed Anthony Wood. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 295 

by his schemes for draining the great morass between Pisa and 
the sea ; for building a mole at Leghorn, making it a free port, 
and settling an English factory there ; for which great services, 
the Grand Duke gave him a pension of 2000 sequins per annum. 
In short, by his practical skill in Philosophy, Chemistry, Physic, 
Navigation, Architecture and the Mathematics, his exile was a 
public benefit to Italy, a public loss to England. But with a 
Prince who could sacrifice a Raleigh, how could a Dudley find 
esteem ! At length, after building a noble palace at Elorence, 
this Duke died, at his Castle of Carbello, which the Grand Duke 
had given him for a country seat, in 1649, aged 66. His wife 
Alice, was afterwards created by King Charles I., Duchess Dudley, 
Sir Robert's legitimacy being acknowledged in her patent. She 
lived till 166S, and was as distinguished for her charities, as her 
husband was for his learning and abilities. 

" Sir Robert Dudley's principal work, which is now very scarce, 
is intituled, "Dell Arcano del Mare, di Roberto Dudleo, Duca di 
Nortumbria e Conte di Warvick, con mult, fig.," Eiorenze, 
164:6-47, 3 vols, folio. It abounds with schemes, plans, useful 
projects, &c. A copy of it was sold among Dr. Campbell's books 
a few years ago, 1 and another remains in the Bodleian Library. 
The little tractate that occasioned this detail, though Wood 2 sup- 
poses it to have remained a MS., was published by Rushworth, 
and though neither King James I. nor Charles I., nor their 
ministers, made use of it, yet it was turned to their prejudice, as 
has been already mentioned. 

" The following is an abstract of the contents of this Tract. 

" The first part which is styled, ' A Proposition to secure the 
State a:nt> to bridle the Impertinent oe Parliaments.' 

" 1. To have a fortress in every considerable town. 

"2. To suffer none to wear arms, but such as are enrolled. 

" 3. To cause highways to be made through the fortified towns. 

" 4, Not to let the soldiers of such fortresses be inhabitants of 
the place. 

" 5. To let no persons pass through such places without a 
ticket. 

" 6. To have the names of all lodgers taken by all innkeepers. 

1 Xow in the British Museum, as well as another copy, ' Impressione Se- 
conda, Fiorenza,' 1661, 3 vols. 

- Wood's ' Athena? Oxoniensis,' vol. ii, 128. 



296 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

" 7. To impose an oath of allegiance" upon all the subjects. 
"To each fort he allots 3000 men, and £40,000 per 
annum. 

" The second part entitled ' Means to increase his Majesty's 

REVENUES.' 



" 1. To demand a tenth of all estates, real and per- 
sonal, in lieu of all other subsidies. This, by his 
calculation, will increase the revenue, — at least 500,000 

" 2. To buy out all leases upon the Crown lands, — at 

least 140,000 

" 3. To take the salt into his Majesty's own hands, — at 

least 150,000 

"4. To demand a rate for sealing the weights and 

measures every year, at 6d. each weight, — near 60,000 

" 5. To demand an impost for wools, as in Spain, at 5 

per cent, of the true value at the shearing . 140,000 

" 6. To lay a tax of five per cent, upon every lawyer's fee 50,000 

"7. To lay a tax of £10, £5, or £1 per annum, upon all 

inns, taverns, alehouses, &c, for a licence . 100,000 

"8. To lay a tax of three or four per cent, upon all 
Cattle, flesh and horses sold in the market as in 
Tuscany. (N.B. — All flesh, fish and victuals to 
be sold by weight.) .... 200,000 

" 9. To lay a tax upon all things alienated, and marriage 

portions, at seven per cent., as in Tuscany . 100,000 

*' The subjects (in return for this) to be eased of 
hardships, to be of age at 18, and not to forfeit 
their lands by condemnation, except for high 
treason. 

" 10. To demand a rate upon all offices in his Ma- 
jesty's grant. Notaries, attornies, &c, to pay 
towards it ..... 100,000 

" 11. By some other taxes, not specified . ■ 200,000 

" 12. To reduce his Majesty's household to board wages 60,000 

" 13. By an assured course in the Navy, not specified, — 

at least 40,000 
" 14. To demand a rate for license to eat eggs, cheese, 
and white meats at 10*. the rich, and Is. 6d. the 
poor • 100,000 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 297 

15. To take an imposition upon the Catholics' lands. 

Particulars not named, — at least 200,000 



" Total Increase . . £2,140,000 

"Besides some sums of money in present, by the following 
courses : 

£ 
" 1. At the Prince's marriage, all the Earls to be made 
Grandees of Spain and Principi, — at £20,000 
each . . . . . 

" 2. All the Barons to be made Earls, at £19,000 each 500,000 
"3. To ennoble 200 of the richest commoners, as is 
usual in JNaples, 
"A Duke to pay . . £30,000] 

" A Marquiss . . . 15,000 [ 

"An Earl . . . 10,000 [ at least 1,000,000 

" A Viscount, or Baron . 5,000 J 

IS\B. — The ancient nobility to precede all these. 
" 4. To make gentlemen of low degree, and rich farmers 

Esqtrires, the price not named. 
" By another course not specified, — at least 300,000 

" He concludes by recommending also a sumptuary law. 1 



[1612.] "Sir Hohert Dudley (son of Earl of Let/eester) to Sir David 

Foiclis. 

" Florence, 14 Nov. 1612. 
" Sir, 

" Although I have had heretofore a sufficient taste of your 
readiness in doing many good offices for me, whereby I hold my- 
self obliged unto you very much, yet I have been since advertised 
by some letters from Mr. Yates, of the increase of your extra- 
ordinary good respect unto me, which now, at his coming to 
Elorence, he hath so fully confirmed, (affirming you to be a 
principal agent in the speedy effecting of my business with the 
Prince, my Master,) that I cannot devise how to give fit corre- 
spondency to this your exceeding loving kindness towards me ; 
seeing therefore that I need, not doubt of your constant perse- 

1 Nichols's ' Bibliotheca Topog. Brit.,' vol. vi, and * Gent's Mag.,' 1767, pp. 
103-4. 



298 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

verance therein, I will not be dainty to make you a party to my 
designs. I have sent unto his highness a little treatise, much im- 
porting his own security and profit, the copy whereof I have 
herewith sent unto you, 1 that you may the better instruct your- 
self to encourage his highness to undertake a matter of that con- 
sequence for his own safety and perpetual good. It cannot be 
unknown to you that I have given his highness my estate of 
Kenilworth for a small matter, considering the worth thereof: 
I have only reserved the Constableship of the Castle, that I may 
have some command there under his highness, whensoever I shall 
happen to come into England, and also that he will protect me 
(and that but justly) in the sale of Ichington and Balsall, that I 
might settle my estate, to be the better able to do his highness 
service, for without the sale thereof, I shall be in far worse case 
than I was before. I have given warrant to Mr. Yates to 
undergo all my businesses whatsoever in my behalf, in my 
absence ; and he hath so confirmed me in the assurance of your 
forward and ready assistance upon all occasions, that I need not 
any more solicit you therein ; but he can likewise assure you, 
that upon the sale of those lands I have proportioned a thankful 
gratuity for you, as a testimony of my exceeding love and thank- 
fulness unto you, protesting withal ever to remain, 

" Your most affectionate and assured true friend, 

" "Warwick. 

"■Florence ; 14>th November, 1612. 

(Superscribed) 
" To my honorable and much esteemed 

good friend Sir David Fowlis, Knight, 

Gent, of the Prince's Bed-Chamber and 

Cofferer to his Highness." 2 

1 The treatise alluded to, consists of sixteen pages of MS. in a plain neat 
hand (not Dudley's), and is indorsed "Coppie of Sr. Rob. Dudley his service 
offered to the Prince, 1612, November," and in another hand " Sr Davie 
Fowles' papers, presented to the King, the first of Januarie, 1629." 

It commences with the heading, " A proposition for his Highness, my 
master, the Prince of Wales." It points out the necessity of a thorough 
attention to the navy, as the best means of keeping up the greatness of the 
country. In the second part, he speaks of his invention of a new ship to be 
called the " Gallizabra," to carry fifty great pieces, drawing only ten feet of 
water, to sail faster than any other vessel. That the same can be maintained 
at much less charge, and may be managed by fewer men, and with greater 
readiness. Dated Florence, 22nd Nov., 1612. Prince Henry, to whom it is 
addressed, died on the 6th of the same month. 

2 State Paper Office, London. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 299 

[1612.] Indorsed, " Copy of Sir Robert Dudley, his service 
offered to the Prince, 1612, November ;" also, in another hand, 
under the above, " Sir David Fowlis's Papers, presented to the 
King, the first of January, 1629." 

" A Proposition foe his Highness, mt Master, the Prince 
oe "Wales. 

" It is held for the surest reason of state amongst some of good 
understanding, that what king soever is most powerful by sea 
hath the best means to secure his own greatness ; and if his 
ambition pass further, hath the like occasion to hazard others. 

" The consequence of this proposition is to be confirmed by 
many examples, observed in the revolution of such like affairs, 
especially by the success of the late Queen of England, that so 
infinitely affronted the King of Spain ; as also those States of the 
Low Country, defending very easily their long war, to his great 
expense and loss ; so as well looked into what was done and what 
might have been done, maketh demonstrable the former proposi- 
tion ; and to explain it more particularly, we will briefly show, how 
much it importeth, and may be applied to your Highness's more 
greatness and security. 

1. " Pirst for England, as their good and safety hath always been 
upheld by their sea-force, so on the contrary, if the King of Spain 
had been more potent by sea, and able to invade England, in the 
time of these wars, it might have much hazarded that kingdom ; 
the private reasons whereof I omit, as not fit for this discourse. 

2. " Touching Prance, as the sundry affronts England in times 
past, by invasions hath done them, by being their master at sea, 
lost them their crown ; so in their last war, the same force of Eng- 
land preserved them from the Spaniard, who possessed their best 
ports, and was besides strongly planted on their firm land. 

3. " The Hollanders, being more strong by sea than the King 
of Spain, have not only much consumed that great King in a lin- 
gering and long war, but also at last made their peace upon good 
advantage ; and this chiefly in being able to give succour by sea, 
as their long siege of Ostend doth verify ; and is allowed by great 
Captains, that the sea relief importeth more than the best fort- 
resses or fortifications; so as by the contrary reason, had the 
King of Spain known to accomplish the means presented your 
Highness, (in the second part of this discourse,) by such fleet and 
forcible vessels to enter his ports of Dunkirk, &c, the Low Coun- 



300 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

tries could not stand in the terms of safety they do, nor England 
nourish in that state it doth and may. 

4. " Touching Spain and Portugal ; their losses to England by 
sea ; we know by the battles they have lost, by their prizes taken, 
and by their cities burned, as well in the Indies, as in Spain and 
Portugal ; the losses whereof may import many millions, and by 
the impoverishment of the King himself, all which considered and 
applied to my end, I know and dare boldly say, England may 
have the means to dispose of both their Indies, and that by 
such demonstrable means, as if I should discover them, not be 
gainsayed. 

5. " The like application may be employed to hurt Italy, who 
want not many occasions, I know, to have taken upon them, the 
like advantage, and may no less hurt the King of Spain ; in Italy, 
and Italians themselves, and many other territories of his, than 
before hath been pronounced against the Indies. 

6. " Touching the state of Venice, which I place by itself, from 
Italy, being the most forcible part thereof by sea and thereby 
maintaineth their greatness and wealth and esteem, to the heighth 
it is of, so on the contrary any Prince having Ports in their 
Adriatic Seas, (being but narrow) ; and withal we are of more force 
than they ; it is most assured, they might be barred from all 
manner of traffic and relief, which importeth altogether their good 
and safety. 

7. " Upon the great Turk are the like or easier occasions by 
sea ; his force less, and his riches of more value, so as he hath some 
straits giveth them this occasion, as whosoever can maintain that 
passage, (as is easy,) may not only hinder him from receiving that 
wealth, (which importeth above thirty millions yearly,) but also 
avoid the prejudice of his galleys ; either to hurt the Christianity 
or relief of the Grecian Islands, he possesseth in the Archipelago, 
the state whereof standeth so, as by such a course he may both 
easily and assuredly lose them, to the great benefit of Christianity, 
wherein I could speak very particularly, having invented the 
same design for the Grand Duke Ferdinand, and embraced by 
him as the best course for his war and greatness against the 
Turk. 

" Now having shown your Highness the great advantage by 
sea to dispose of the potentest territories of the world, the 
inferiors are easily bridled, by the same rule, as cannot be denied. 
I may withal conclude this part, that whosoever is patron of the 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 301 

sea, commandeth the land. Now in respect of the manner of sea 
force jet known in ordinary practice to the world, either these of 
England or elsewhere, is of little moment to these ends : for many 
reasons, especially their great draught, whereby they can offend or 
defend but in some few places and less occasions, I have there- 
fore ordered this second part following for your Highness better 
understanding my intention and desire, when time may serve to do 
you service, in such a degree as I dare boldly say unto you, (with- 
out ostentation,) that no man living is able to offer you a matter 
of so much consequence for the state and security thereof, as 
now it standeth; nay, hardly wish you a greater, much less 
accomplish it. 

The Second Part. 

" By the former part is shown the great importance for so great 
a Prince as your Highness to be master of the seas, as well to 
secure your own estate as to endanger others thereby ; the means 
to dispose of great matters, which being so, my intention is how 
to augment the same with more advantage than hitherto hath 
been penetrated, and (as I conceive) may consist in these three 
points following : 

1. " First, to invent such a sort of vessel, as by the condition 
and quality thereof, may be fitter for all uses required, than those 
already made. 

2. " That the same invention may be maintained at much less 
charge, &c. 

3. " That their employment may be by fewer men, and easier 
expense and readiness. 

" Touching the first, I may pretend a vessel of my invention, I 
name Gallizabra, which carry 50 great pieces, and those I make 
lighter, by one third at least, than others ; and no less in force, 
every way ; whereof each of these vessels to carry 30 of those 
demi-cannons, and 20 demi-culverines ; and though the draught 
of this vessel passeth not ten feet, yet are they good, both in long 
and short voyages ; in swiftness to sail, no ship nor pinnace can 
arrive near them, especially (a la oolnino) or upon a tack ; and 
besides, they have all other good conditions, both in foul or fair 
weather, for a ship to have ; being indeed altogether contrary to 
the vulgar opinions. Further they are contrived to be hardly 
sunk by the enemy's ordnance, and less easy to be boarded ; they 
may carry oars, if need be, to unite themselves in calms, to the 



302 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

great hurt of enemies' ships, that in such case cannot stir ; these 
under sail are so stiff- sided, to indure forcible winds as no vessel 
whatsoever is able to do the like ; now whereas the sea force con- 
sisteth merely in these qualities and secrets how to manage them 
in fight, and not in the number or hugeness of ships, as the de- 
monstration hereof doth manifest : I may .assuredly pretend 30 of 
these gallizabras, double in force to the King's Majesty's navy, 
and sufficient to affront in battle the armadas of any other potent 
state by sea ; with these advantages, more that they can leave or 
take, and gain the wind of any other fleet ; that they can by their 
exceeding floatness [? buoyancy] enter into every ordinary ports, 
and such places where ships of burthen may not hazard to go, 
thereby fitter for more employment, and not to be prevented, 
upon any landing or invasion. That the charge to build one of 
them, (the body I mean,) besides timber, may import £1300, or 
thereabouts, other provision of the King's Navy will serve to 
furnish these with little help, therefore, in the building doth con- 
sist most part of the charge, and shall not in all pass £60,000 or 
£70,000, with no doubt for so good purpose will be defrayed by 
the counties and chief cities thereof, rateably scompartited^ the 
King allowing for the work, wood and iron only. 

" That these vessels succeeding in practice, as here propounded, 
the rest of the ancient navy may be ordered as best shall please 
his Highness' s wisdom, and therein also worth consideration, to 
make the merchants-venturers of London and other port-towns, 
to employ a good part of them that are strong and serviceable ; 
though they sell the worst of their own, and have these for little, 
(their hulls I mean,) for so their force may be kept for the use 
of the State ; and not lost, and albeit the setting forth of these 
may be more chargeable in merchandise (ton for ton) than their 
own, yet in respect of their daily losses by pirates, and great dis- 
graces received to the whole nation, to be so beaten and spoiled 
every day as they have been, the difference of charges or other 
trifling objections, ought not so much to be regarded as the sure 
transporting their goods, besides the reputation and strength 
to the Kingdom, but howsoever in this I remit me to their 
liking. 

2. " Touching the second point of maintaining these gallizabras 
at less charge, I pretend their fashion and proportion such as they 
may be kept in a kind of arsenal, and order, according to my 
1 Scompartire, to share or divide. (Italian.) 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 303 

direction, where they shall need both few men to look to them, as 
also not to decay their furniture, by weather, nor themselves so 
often to be repaired, and yet be kept with far more safety than 
now they are, either for wind, weather, or fire, and three parts 
less charge, and less means of abuse by ill officers ; which benefits 
cannot be applied to his Majesty's present navy, their forms not 
comporting such ends. 

3. " Touching the third point of setting forth these vessels, &c, 
I conceive, may be much more commodious and easier in them, 
than in other ships of war, and ordered according to my directions 
need require fewer men, that is, for each, 130 mariners and 110 
soldiers ; but counting the mariners to furnish 30 gallizabras 
(which importeth most) will not pass 4000, the ease whereof is 
such, as their employment need not hinder the foreign trade of 
merchants. 

" If it shall be thought necessary to keep some galleys, as his 
Majesty doth, then I will, with another sort of vessel of that kind, 
of mine own invention, also called by me Gallea Beale, which row 
as swift, and sail faster, than the English galleys, and in draught 
nearly equal ; but for force to fight, so far surpassing, as one of 
these, carrying 60 pieces of good ordnance, is able to beat 20 
galleys, besides they are framed of purpose to endure much more 
foul weather ; that they may use their navigation with shipps, 
which galleys cannot do, four of these galley reales may be suffi- 
cient, and are fit to attend a fleet for these reasons : 

1. " That in calms they can do great hurt to any enemies' ships 
scattered. 

2. " That they are more swift of sail to fetch up any prize, than 
any other vessel of square sails can be. 

3. " They are excellent to land men upon any occasion, and 
hinder others to do the like. 

4. " That they are ready to relieve any vessel distressed, or come 
aground. 

5. " That they can both put out of ports, and enter into them, 
when ships cannot, and therefore better for sudden actions. 

6. "That they are good to enter into rivers, and to defend 
straight or shoal passages, or any other service a galley can do. 

7. "Lastly, these can tow away any vessel distressed in fight, 
either by loss of her masts, or burning her sails, or chief ropes, or 
such like accidents, and so save her from being taken ; or lead in 



304 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

ships to fight, in calms, in little winds, upon more advantage than 
otherwise can be taken. 

" These vessels may be armed for rowing with condemned men, or 
watermen, four vessels whereof may be sufficient in any armada, 
being of more force than 80 galleys, and in charge, little more than 
seven or eight galleys. 

" The same gallice realei are of such consequence.in an armada, 
as they would require a particular command, with other officers 
for their government, being greatly different in all orders to these 
of gallizabras, or ships, and albeit their force is so great as men- 
tioned, yet are they not of the kind of Gralliares, but in use and 
swiftness far beyond them. 

" In these propositions your highness need but search the 
benefit and necessaries of the offer, for the rest I can secure you 
to be able to do what herein is contained, and perchance much 
more to purpose, than is fit in this discourse to be manifest. 

" Further, I must profess, that whereas I have found no friend- 
ship nor favor in England, but from your Highness, my gracious 
Master, so do I renounce all other obligation (his Majesty only 
excepted) but yourself, and therefore do resolve confidently not 
to do any of these services spoken of, upon any contentment what- 
soever, unless your Highness be pleased to take the Admiralty 
wholly into your hands, for in these courses belonging to it, or any 
other of mine, I will depend upon none but his Majesty, your 
gracious father, and yourself. And when it shall please G-od, I 
may with my honor, return to serve you (which point I am above 
all things to respect, or else were unworthy to be your servant,) 
I can then promise divers other services, not inferior to this, as 
well for your profit, as force, being the two chief ends I study 
and endeavour for you. So praying Grod for your Highness's long 
happiness, I humbly take my leave. From Florence, the 22d of 
November, 1612." (O. S. 12th Nov.) 

[1613-14.] Indorsed, " Copy of apart of a letter sent from Livorno 
[Leghorn] to London, by Sir Bolert Dudley, to a friend of his, 
in January, 1613. 

"His intention of a ship of strange force, &c." 

" The words of Sir Eobert Dudley, his letter touching his new 
invented ship. 

" You have heard, I am sure, of the great Turkish Prince come 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 305 

to the Grand Duke with offer of his, country and self and all ; he 
hath been Prince of the Holy Land, a matter of such consequence 
as his Highness meaneth to do honorably in it, and is begun to 
arm his galleons. Now his highness, of his favour, much de- 
pending of my counsel in this business, and matter of great con- 
sequence, I, in studying upon it, of vessels fit for this business, if 
some Christian Prince will give help in it, as is hoped, now by 
occasion of this diligent study in a matter of so much consequence, 
I have found out a certain manner of vessel, that I can do, of so 
wonderful consequence in force and swiftness, as I dare boldly 
say, the like was never known to the world, and wonderfully far 
beyond those I mentioned in my discourse to the Prince, my 
master, of famous memory, so as I do hold them nothing in com- 
parison of this, being as float as they, not passing 10 foot water, 
but tidyer, as swift in sailing as all ships are they, besides these, 
can road [ride] as well as any galliass, 1 but endure the seas and 
storms as well as the King's ships, which is the importance of the 
secret and advantage in fight, besides their huge force, which is 
the greatest that ever the world saw ; for some skilful [persons] 
that I have showed my design, (though they are not the nearer 
for doing of it,) yet can judge and conclude absolutely that no 
three of the King's greatest ships royal, though you make the 
Princes one, is able to endure the force of one of these ; in fine, 
it is not credible her force and qualities. I call this a counter- 
galliass, being invented upon the occasion mentioned to over- 
throw them, because where these come the galliasses must depart, 
though they be five or six for one. I write to you this much, 
because this sort of vessel is so great a secret for England, as if the 
King had of them, he would not leave it for millions, I know ; 
and though I invented this against the Turk only, for which I 
know he would be glad, but if by this occasion this secret should 
come to the hands of others, to have but ten of these, were in 
some such a Prince, were absolute patron of these seas, in despite 
of ships, and by reason of their orders and force, land men where 
they list, being besides so floaty as I said. Now out of my 
affection to my country, and duty to his Majesty, I would not do 
it, nor propound it, without offering it first to him, though pri- 
vately to none but to himself, as a secret I can do, and esteem at 
a great value, as the sure card of my advancement wheresoever I 
be, therefore had rather have my desire and advancement in my 
1 Galliass, a large kind of gallev (Halliwell). 

20 



306 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

own country than elsewhere, especially to do it so great service 
as I can in this, and avoid it so great an ill as may happen in dis- 
covering it elsewhere, though my intent be not to do anything 
but against the Turk. The Venetians have heard an inkling of 
this vessel and seek wonderfully after it under hand ; and others 
greater than they. I have stayed answer or offering it any, till 
I know what the King will say to it, or that he esteem to have it, 
or me in it, as I esteem myself and the value of it, that know the 
benefit, for this is a matter of such consequence as I will treat it 
so. If his Majesty will not apprehend this offer, which I do out 
of duty and love, I know he will, out of his bounty, give me leave, 
without his displeasure, (as I deserve, making him the first offer,) 
to make my best use of it for my advancement that I can abroad ; 
wherefore I write this much unto you, that you may confer it 
with Sir David Foulis, for none else will I have know of it, yet 
to acquaint the King with what I write, and the respect I owe 
him in this offer, if he like, it being in his power to command me 
and it ; if not, that he dare not trust my skill so far as I write, 
to give me leave, without dislike, to make my best use of it, 
having now as I live, no country, nor means to raise myself, but 
my knowledge. In this, I pray you, work very secretly and care- 
fully, that I may have a speedy answer, and that you and Sir 
David be witnesses of my loyalty in my offer, and that by this 
occasion you work yourself in person with Sir David, to deliver 
the effect of this I write ; that from you two I may credit what 
his Majesty sayeth, because few else I shall credit to be the 
King's answer to me, only out of love and duty to his Majesty 
and my Country do I write thus much, because else it is indif- 
ferent if it be not accepted, because I know where to make the 
use of it, the times here offering great occasion, &c." 

[1614.] In May following Sir Robert made further appli- 
cation in respect to his invention, as appears by another paper, 
indorsed, 

" The commodity op Sir E. D., his vessel, 1614." 

The paper is headed, 

" What I promise touching the vessel offered his Majesty, if he 
please to accept it." 

In this paper, he reiterates the contents of the Tract or 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 307 

Proposition of Nov. 1612, divided into ten sections, and he 
closes, with these words, 

"Therefore do subscribe it and write it with my own hand 
as an obligo, by my word to be able to perform what here 
written. Dated the 11th of May, 1614. 

"Eo. Dudi, &C." 1 

[1611.] Sir Bolert Dudley (Earl of Warwick, Sfc.) to Sir David 
Foulis, 15 July, 1614. [Holoyro: 

" My very honorable and worthy friend, 

" It is near two months since I wrote you full answer to 
satisfy his Majesty of my ability to make those forcible and swift 
vessels offered him, which as touching his sea force and strength, 
I know to be an offer of greatest consequence ; and only duty 
made me do it, and love to my country, else that proffer had not 
sailed so far Northwards. Touching the same, I wrote something 
to my Lord of Somerset, 2 of all which I expect now shortly to hear 
some resolution. 

" Having had a mind, in this my absence, to enable myself to do 
his Majesty some faithful services, that he might one day thank 
me for, as well in his matters of profit at home, and safely within 
land, as money matters, I thought of some application for his 
service, of much I have seen and had extraordinary means to 
learn, from the school of the Great Duke Ferdinand, of famous 
memory ; and I remember well I was then most thinking of some 
ends for his service ; even then, when his agent, Sir Stephen 
Leasure 3 (I thank him) proclaimed me in his cups for a rebel and 
I know not what ; but leaving him where he deserved, I thought 
it not amiss at this present to write you a word of some impor- 
tunate matter for his Majesty's good, upon the occasion of the 
thwartness I understand of late the Parliament useth towards 
him ; neither consenting to such subsidies accustomed and necessary, 
but rather with much presumption, standing upon worse terms ; 
and I, conceiving to understand something, their natures I doubt 
in time may grow to a bad obstinacy, especially understanding 
their malice much pretendeth against the Scottish nation, to whom 
I have been particularly beholden, maketh me. out of gratitude, 

1 State Paper Office, London. 

2 The favorite minion of the King. 

3 Sir Stephen Leasure was knighted in 1609. 



308 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

write this, which tor a time I had thought to have prolonged ; 
neither would I do it to any other but yourself, knowing your 
fidelity to the King, and worth. Having long suspected some 
mischiefs I see creeping on, I kept in store a certain design of 
mine, which, followed in England, by his Majesty, I know mav 
make him secure against all these rubs for his profit, and make 
him safe to do what he please with his own (as an absolute 
monarch as he is), without dangerous resistance, and as free from 
the possibility of foreign invasions, if any such should ever be 
attempted, and keep the bridle in his own hand, so strong, and 
never King had a greater in those parts ; nay, I doubt not by the 
same means I know, he may to increase his revenues to a much 
greater value— I hope double ; and I make no question, without 
discontent of his people, and not to be vexed with the variety of 
so many men's minds as the Parliaments afford. In fine, to make 
him so absolute patron of his own as he may do what himself 
thinketh fit, without contradiction of moment by any that can 
hazard prejudice, &c. Eirst, I protest to you I wrote this out of 
love and duty, merely to his Majesty, and gratitude for some 
favours his Majesty hath done me, and not least for being father 
to a Prince, my master, I so dearly loved (as it maketh my heart 
bleed to remember), and not out of any design or desire to leave 
home, being farthest from my desire, having received so many dis- 
courtesies from my friends and kindred in those parts, which are 
the most and greatest of the kingdom, as it maketh me least think 
of home ; and therefore to avoid that suspicion I profess I can 
better do him the service, and more willingly, where I am, than at 
home. True it is I will trust no English with my design therein, for 
his Majesty's greater happiness, if [it] please him to follow it; but 
if he give commission to some wise and faithful servant and Scottish 
gentleman, to treat with me therein privately, I will open to him 
a course for his Majesty's service, under writing, that I know he 
will say I am the faithfullest servant of his kingdom, and I may 
say, without interest, because I offer it without particular condi- 
tions, yet that his commission may be large to answer for some 
generality on his Majesty's part, were not amiss for some reason 
necessary, I presume, when his gracious Majesty shall be partaker 
of my intent for his service to prevent the former mischiefs that 
methinks creep on too fast. I doubt not, upon the view thereof, 
his vexations, or what else I may term it, fit for his greatness, 
will be much satisfied and eased in this course, or rather counsel 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 309 

(if I may without presumption so call it); he must be his own 
Counsellor, or some one most trusted, to digest it, with his Ma- 
jesty's great wisdom, and most trusted by him, which I conceive 
of, or rather wish it may be my Lord of Somerset ;* for many 
reasons the faithful person employed in it, I wish either yourself 
or some one as trusty to the King and affectionate to you, as your- 
self, for I doubt not the service, as I said, will be extremely grate- 
ful, and be a sure way as I pretend (if my brains fail me not, 
and daily examples I see), to make his Majesty powerful and rich 
at home, to his own pleasure, secure from rebellions or foreign in- 
vasions. I do not use to write so confidently and liberally in a 
matter so weighty, if I knew not what I say, sure I am I shall not 
fail in my duty and loyalty to his Majesty, which may answer for 
any other want in me ; so not to tire you with longer discourse, 
only that you will be pleased to make privately known to his 
Majesty what I write. I bid you most affectionately farewell, from 
Florence, this 15 of July, 1614. 

" Tour most faithful friend to command, 

"Warwick, &c." 

" Because my leisure is not at this time to keep a copy of what 
I write, I pray you keep it safely, that if the business proceed to 
a tractation, you may send me this letter, or copy thereof, that I 
may maintain my word in every point here written. If you trust 
any with this business of the nation, I think you may best Mr. 
Yeats, who I have proved a very faithful, honest man, wise and 
secret, and I know a most faithful mind to the King to be 
employed." 

(Superscribed) 
" To my very honorable and worthy 
friend, Sir David Foulis. 

At the Court." 2 

(Superscribed) 
[1614.] "To my honor able friend Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, Sfc. fyc. 

" Sir, 

" I have received your letters, wherein you testify so honor- 
able a conceit of me, that I cannot but take it very thankfully, 

1 Robert Carr, Viscount Rochester, created Earl of Somerset, 3rd Nov., 1613. 

2 State Paper Office, London. 



310 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

and will ever answer the trust you repose in me with such care as 
becometh me, whether it shall concern his Majesty's benefit, or 
the country's, or your own particular, in whatsoever shall be rea- 
sonable and just. And if the offer made in your letters prove 
answerable, that you promise I shall be ready to employ myself 
to procure you such favor and reward as shall be suitable to the 
service, as upon the return of this messenger, and his Majesty's 
satisfaction, by his report of the business, you shall more particu- 
larly understand. So wishing the good event of so great a project 
and much contentment to yourself, I rest, 

" Your loving friend, 

"R. S."i 

" Wansted, 12th Sept., 1614. 

(Indorsed) 
" M. to R. Dudley, 12th Sept., 1614." 

[1616.] At Greenwich, 21st May, 1616. [From Privy Council Regrs.] 

" Sir Thomas Leigh, Knight and Baronet, having exhibited a 
Petition unto his Majesty, humbly praying; that whereas Sir 
Robert Dudley, Knight, after he had taken to wife the daughter 
of the said Sir Thomas Leigh, and cohabiting with her the space 
often years, had by the said Lady seven daughters, five living, 
and four of them now grown to woman's estate, did afterwards not 
only depart and absent himself out of the Kingdom, into parts 
beyond the seas, where he yet remaineth, in contempt of his Ma- 
jesty's laws and express commandment, signified under his High- 
ness' s Privy Seal, and hath disloyally forsaken his said wife and 
children, but also now endeavoureth utterly to defeat them of all 
means of livelihood from him, by selling all such lands of his as are 
left unsold within this realm. It would therefore please his 
Majesty that some course might be taken for the restraining of 
him in the execution of his intended purpose. The said Petition 
being thereupon referred by his Majesty unto the Right Honorable 
the Lord Chancellor of England, the Lord Zouch, and Mr. Secretary 
Lake ; upon perusal thereof, and of the particulars annexed, setting 
forth the state of the cause concerning the said Lady Dudley ; 
They have this day ordered, that Sir David PWlis and Mr. Grates, 
who do pretend, (as it is therein informed,) to have the inheritance 

1 Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, then Lord Chamberlain. — The corrupt 
favorite of James I. He was implicated in the murder of Sir Thomas 
Overbury. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 311 

of certain manors conveyed unto them by Sir Robert Dudley, since 
his departure, shall attend their Lordships at their next meeting, 
for this business, to show what estate they have, and upon what 
consideration the same is passed unto them; whereupon their 
Lordships will further advise what is fit to be done. And in the 
meantime they are of opinion, that it is requisite Order be given 
by the Lord Chancellor that no Dedimus potestatem be granted 
to take any fine, or other assurance, from Sir Robert Dudley for 
the aliening of any of his lands. And they are also of opinion 
that it is in no sort fit, or to be allowed, that either the eight 
hundred pounds yearly rent, or the eight thousand pounds ready 
money, or any part thereof, (mentioned in the said particular or 
abstract, remaining now in the hands of the Clerk of the Council,) 
should be conveyed out of this kingdom, either in specie or by 
exchange, to the said Sir Robert Dudley, or to any other to his 
use, whereby to encourage him to persist in the continuance of 
his wilful contempt and disobedience to his Majesty's command- 
ment. But that the said money be stayed here in this Kingdom, 
to the end the Lady, his wife, who brought him a fair portion, 
may be relieved and provided for, towards the maintenance of her- 
self and family, and some competent portions also raised for their 
said children, out of the same." 1 

[1621.] Sir Thomas Ghaloner to Sir Sober ( Dudley, 

at Livorno. 

30 July, 1621. {Holograph.) 
" Sir, 

" Albeit I have not written unto you, notwithstanding I 
remained as desirous of your good as any friend you have ; in tes- 
timony whereof you shall understand that since you took a course 
to repair your offence by submitting yourself to his Majesty's 
grace, and resolved therein to use the mediation of his Highness, 
I have not failed to do you all the good offices that lay in my poor 
ability ; and as it beseemeth a friend to deal plainly with him, to 
whom I profess friendship, let me persuade you to apply yourself 
to such actions as may rejoice those that wish you well, and have 
sorrowed much for your late misfortune. The means in my 
opinion to effect this, consist chiefly in giving evident tokens of 
your loyalty, and to make good by your service what by your 

1 Pi*. Coun. Regr., Jas. I, vol ii. 



312 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

neglect you have forfeited. Which point being happily won, and his 
Majesty's favorable conceit gained, it followeth next, that to your 
Lady's friends and allies here in England you endeavour to give 
present satisfaction, to the end that both herself and your children 
may have portions allotted them, or some such assurance thereof 
as you, in your fatherly care, are bound to provide for them. 
Neither am I unmindful to put you in mind of that which I pre- 
sume you will not omit, that before your return to England you 
will take order that some that with you have suffered loss of 
friends and other prejudices, for your sake, be honorably settled 
with a convenient estate. 1 Believe me, Sir, by these endeavours, 
you shall return a welcome guest to all your country ; and the 
Prince, whom you vow, next unto the King, only to honour and 
serve, shall not be ashamed to have such a servant ; for I can 
assure you that his purpose is never to aim at anythiug whereunto 
the advancement of his reputation shall not be bis director. To 
which purpose it hath seemed good to his Majesty and his High- 
ness that I should enclose the articles or writing herein, 2 to the 
end that, upon notice given by you of your humble readiness to 
give way unto your own happiness, by subscribing dutifully there- 
unto, you may forthwith receive that gracious pardon which you 
so much thirst for. And as you have received my Lord of North- 
ampton's especial care (as I may justly term it) the life of your 
estate, which through your debts and other intricacies was ready 
to perish, so let me advise you to acknowledge it, with the best 
terms and fashion you may. Not detaining you longer, I will 
eud, though not end to be a friend to him that shall apply himself 
to all loyal duties, 

"Tours, 

" Thomas Ciialoker." 

" Richmond, July 30. 

(Superscribed) 
« To Sir Robert Dudley, Knight, 

Livorno." 



Evidently alluding to Elizabeth Southwell, — his third wife. 
Not found with the letter. 
State Paper Office, London. 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 313 

[1621.] Indorsed, " Kenilworth let to Prince by Sir Eobert 
Dudley." 

" A relation of the passages in the conveyance of Kenilworth to 
the Prince by Sir Eo. Dudley." 

" Sir Eo. Dudley did ever seek all means before his going over, 
to let his Majesty understand his loyal and true heart, and to that 
purpose tendered his service to his late Highness, who vouch- 
safed to call him servant ; and Sir Eobert, to give him a further 
taste of his true affection, by Sir Thomas Chaloner, offered 
Kenilworth at a low price to his Highness, but the Lord Trea- 
surer Dorset said the King was not furnished with money. 

" Sir Eobert, after his departure out of England, finding that 
his adversaries laid many imputations on him, ceased not to 
write many letters to his friends, especially assuring his Highness 
that he would live and die the King's faithful subject and his ser- 
vant; and whereas his Majesty was to pay £26,000 or £25,000 
for Kenilworth, and as it was informed him, to grant withall a 
pardon for his contempt (which he protested he was driven unto 
with grief of mind), he was contented upon some conditions to let 
his Highness have it at a lower rate, forasmuch as the bruit was in 
England that his Majesty meant to bestow it upon him, and to 
that purpose required that he might be assured whether his High- 
ness would accept of it or no. It pleased the Prince to signify 
that his purpose was to have it, which, being by his servant Wyatt, 
related to Sir Eo. Dudley, he offered to give it freely to the 
Prince, and so would have done, but that the Prince partly refused 
it ; and then Sir Eobert required only such a sum of money as 
might serve his turn to pay some present debts, which Sir Eobert 
did not because nobody else would buy it, for divers offered 
money for it, and it was in his power to sell it to whom he would ; 
besides that, he hath three manors worth £20,000 yet to sell, if he 
were disposed so to do ; whereby Sir Eobert desired his Highness 
to inform his Majesty that no other motive induced him to pass 
such a rich castle at so low a price, but only to give his Majesty 
satisfaction for the contempt ; and as for treasons unjustly imputed 
against him, he would stand to the uttermost trial of law. And 
for service in shipping he propounded an overture of great conse- 
quence for his Majesty, letting his Highness also know that, in 
point of religion, he was different many years before his going 
out of England, and did not change his opinion, as is imputed to 
him since his departure. 



314 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

"It pleased his highness, therefore, before he would conclude, 
to ask leave of his Majesty (which he said he had obtained), and 
to confer also with the late Lord Treasurer, who encouraged him 
to accept the bargain at £15,000, for so much was demanded, and 
his Highness had such a confidence that the King would pardon 
the contempt, considering that Sir Robert, to regain his Majesty's 
gracious favour, thought he had parted with more in the bargain 
than by any profit of the seizure could ever arise, that he sent to 
Mr. Attorney to make ready a pardon, against such time as it 
should please the King resolutely to grant it ; but finding a cross 
at Windsor, a messenger went to Sir Robert to let him know it was 
not the Prince his fault, that the condition of the pardon was not 
performed. 

"Now, albeit that Sir Robert had always refused to part with 
Kenilworth, in case his pardon was not procured, notwithstanding 
his answer was, that, to the end the King and the Prince might 
know the openness of his heart, he would put himself into their 
hands freely, hoping that by how much he humbled himself, so 
much the more his Majesty would take commiseration of his case ; 
he therefore resolved to proceed in the bargain upon condition his 
Highness would undertake, in convenient time, to procure his 
pardon ; and whereas he reserved to himself and his heirs, the Con- 
stableship and command of the game of Kenil worth, he agreed to 
have it put into Sir Thomas Chal oner's hands during their two 
lives ; and to that purpose humbly presented his Highness with 
such conditions as he thought safe and honorable to accept, and by 
letter assured him of the performance thereof. 

"Since which time with much travel and pain of messengers 
sent into Italy to accomplish the business, all hath been brought 
to pass on Sir Robert's part, and there resteth behind part of the 
money to be paid, which was promised to be performed above a 
year past, and for default whereof Sir Robert hath sustained great 
exclamation of his creditors, whereas out of his other lands he 
could have provided himself, if this expectation had not delayed 
him. 

" And now that his Majesty and the Prince have in their hands 
one of the goodliest and stateliest castles of this land, Sir Robert's 
desire is, that his Majesty will extend his grace, without the hope 
whereof no money could have drawn bis estate therein out of his 
possession. 

"And albeit that Sir Robert offered his service in matter of 



SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 315 

shipping, and the delivery of Kenilworth, notwithstanding his 
Highness was advised by Sir Thomas Chaloner not to meddle 
therewith until all had obtained first his Majesty's license, and 
had means to pay what should be promised, which by conference 
with my Lord Treasurer he was assured of, and that also tho- 
roughly informed whether the claim made to Kenilworth were of 
value or not, which course his Highness followed, and under his 
Counsel's hands was certified, that their opinion was, that they 
held not the ground of the claim to be good or sufficient in law, 
besides that there was a strong decree in Chancery on Sir Eobert 
Dudley's behalf." 1 

[1629, 14 Nov.] A copy of the information exhibited into the 
Star Chamber by Sir Eobert Heath, Knight, his Majesty's Attorney 
General, against Francis, Earl of Bedford ; Eobert, Earl of Somer- 
set ; John, Earl of Clare ; Sir Eobert Cotton, Knight and Baronet ; 
John Selden, Esq. ; and Gilbert Barrett, Gent. Tero. Michaelis, 
Anno 5 Carolus Eegis." 

As to " The Proposition," written by Sir Eobert Dudley m 
1612, requesting his Majesty to issue his orders for the above 
persons to appear before his Majesty and the Council at the Star 
Chamber. 

[ 15 Nov.'] " At Whitehall the 15th of November, 1629. 

" This day his Majesty, sitting in Council, was pleased to impart 
to the whole Board the cause for which the Earls of Clare, Somer- 
set, and Bedford, Sir Eobert Cotton, Knight, and sundry other 
persons of inferior quality, had been lately restrained and examined 
by a special commission appointed by him for that purpose. 
Which cause was this ; his Majesty declared that there came to 
his hands, by mere accident, the copy of a certain discourse or Pro- 
position (which was then by his commandment read at the Board), 
pretended to be written for his Majesty's service, and bearing this 
title — ' The Proposition for your Majesty's service, containing 
two parts ; the one to secure your estate, and to bridle the im- 
pertinency of Parliaments ; the other to increase your Majesty's 
revenue much more than it is.' 

" Now. the means propounded in this discourse for the effecting 
thereof are such as are fitter to be practised in a Turkish state 

J Stuli Taper Office, London, 



316 Sill ROBERT DUDLEY. 

than amongst Christians, being contrary to the justice and mild- 
ness of his Majesty's government, and the sincerity of his inten- 
tions; proceeding from a pernicious design, both against his 
Majesty and the State. "Which, notwithstanding the aforesaid 
persons had not only read and concealed the same from his 
Majesty and his Council, but also communicated and divulged it 
to others. "Whereupon his Majesty did further declare, that it is 
his pleasure that the aforesaid Earls and Sir Eobert Cotton shall 
answer this their offense in the Court of Star Chamber, to which 
end they had already been summoned, and that now they should 
be discharged and freed from their restraint, and permitted to 
return to their several houses, to the end that they might have 
the better means to prepare themselves. And lastly, he com- 
manded that his pleasure should be signified by the Board unto 
them, who were then attending without, having for that purpose 
been sent for. His Majesty, having given this order and direction, 
rose from the Board ; and when he was gone the three Earls were 
called in severally, and the Lord Keeper signified to each of them 
his Majesty's pleasure in that behalf, shewing them withall how 
graciously he had been pleased to deal with them, both in the 
manner of their restraint, which was only during the time of the 
examination of the cause (a thing usual and requisite, especially 
in cases of that consequence), and in that they had been com- 
mitted to the custody of eminent and honorable persons, by whom 
they were treated according to their qualities ; and likewise in the 
discharging of them now from that restraint, that they mio-ht 
have the better convenience and means to prepare themselves for 
the defense of their cause in that legal course, by which his Ma- 
jesty had thought fit to call them to an account and trial. The 
like was also signified by his Lordship to Sir Robert Cotton, who 
was further told, that although it were his Majesty's pleasure that 
his studies should as yet remain shut up, yet he might enter into 
them, and take such writings, whereof he should have use, pro- 
vided, that he did it in the presence of a Clerk of the Council, and 
that whereas the clerk attending hath the keys of two of the 
studies, he might put a second lock on either of them, so that 
neither doors might be opened but by him and the said Clerk 
both together." 1 

1 State Paper Office, London. 






SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 317 

^1629.] Indorsed " From the Lords of the Council to Sir David 
Fowlis, the 25th of November 1629.'* 

" After our hearty commendations, we have received and com- 
municated, to his Majesty your letter of the 16th of this present 
[month], in answer of ours of the 9th, together with the two 
writings thereunto annexed ; and having thereupon new charge 
from his Majesty to send again unto you. we will first let you know 
the contentment his Majesty hath, in the freedom and ingenuity 
of your answer : but because the business, bred by those writings, 
proves a matter of much moment, importing his Majesty greatlv 
in honor, and some persons of rank and quality are in question 
about them, it is thought necessary by his Majesty for the further 
clearing of some weighty circumstances, you come hither with all 
convenieut speed ; and that you bring with you a certain letter 1 
specified in the Proposition at the summing up the account of the 
value of the projects contained in the said proposition, as much 
more than was promised by the said letter, whereby the said letter 
appears to be written and sent before this proposition ; and it is 
very requisite it should be had ; wherefore his Majesty will expect 
you should look it out. and produce it with the same fidelity you 
have done the rest ; which we let you know once more for your 
comfort and encouragement, his Majesty doth graciously interpret 
as an acceptable service. So we bid you heartily farewell ; from 
the Court at Whitehall the 25th of November 1629." 2 

[1629.] Sir David Foulis to the Earl of Dorchester (Lord 
Carleton). 

"Inglebye, Yorkshire; 9th Dec, 1629. 
" "May it please your Lordship, 

" I did yesterday receive a letter from yourself and others 
of his Majesty's Honorable Privy Council, intimating his Majesty's 
pleasure, that with convenient speed, I should address myself to 
Court, which upon the very instant I had performed, but that 
there were in my hands, a number of divers sorts of felonies to be 
examined, whereof some were to be tried at the next general 
Quarter-sessions, and other some at the next Assizes and general 
jail delivery, to be holden within the County of York ; the per- 

1 The letter referred to by the Council may be found under date, 15 July.1614. 
See page 307. 

State Paper Office, London. 



318 SIR ROBERT DUDLEY. 

fecting of which, with the recognizances and evidences belonging 
thereunto, will hold me at least ten days ; neither durst I omit so 
great a duty to the Crown, to the Country, and to my own con- 
science, as to leave them at random without bringing them to be 
heard according to law. All which I am forced to do myself alone, 
being here without the assistance of any to help me, in this 
Hundred of Langbargh, where I dwell, consisting of 70 constabu- 
laries. So as I hope that this necessary excuse will be allowed, 
that I do not come so soon as I willingly would ; but (by Grod's 
grace) I will set forward as soon as possibly I can, though I know 
(as I do always find here) that the disorders of the country will 
swell much about Christmas, especially when wicked people shall 
see none here to look to the government ; yet notwithstanding 
all impediments (if G-od grant me continuance of health,) I hope 
to attend your Lordship about twelfthtide •} for I will endeavour 
it with all my power, and will not fail to bring with me such 
papers as are in my possession, touching the matters your Lord- 
ships write of, which, in truth, was neglected and forgotten in a 
manner by me. Thns humbly beseeching your best construction 
and allowance of my proceedings herein, according to my true 
relation and upright meaning, I take my leave and rest, 

" Tour Lordship's humble servant to command, 

"Da. Poults." 

" Inglebye • the 9th of December 1629." 

(Superscription) 
" To the right honorable my very 

good Lord, the Earl of Dorchester, 
principal Secretary to the King his 
Majesty, and one of his Majesty's most 
honorable Privy Counsel. At Court." 2 

[1630.] Proceedings were commenced in the Star Chamber 
against (Francis Russell) Earl of Bedford; (John Hollis) 
Earl of Clare ; (Robert Carr) Earl of Somerset ; Sir Robert 
Cotton, John Selden, Esq., Oliver St. John, Esq., and others, 
for publishing a seditious and scandalous writing. 26th 
May, 1630; VI Charles 1. 

This was the " Proposition," written by Sir Robert Dudley, 

1 Twelfth-day (Halliwell). 

2 State Paper Office, London. 



SIR. ROBERT DUDLEY, 319 

which was sent over in time of James I (1612) by Mr. Yates 
to Sir David Fowlis, who delivered it to the Earl of Somerset 
(Carr), and the Earl communicated it to the King (Jas.). 
The Proposition is printed in ' Rush worth/ 1 And also in 
1 Howell's State Papers/ 2 

The Earl of Somerset pleaded that, conceiving it to be no 
scandal to the present Government, he had casually imparted 
it to the Earls of Bedford and Clare. After the proceedings 
had commenced, viz. on the 29th May, in the presence of the 
nobility and gentry, the King sent word to the Lord Keeper, 
" that in respect of the great joy upon the birth of his son/ 3 
he should immediately order the proceedings to be stopped, 
and the defendants to be discharged/'' Upon which the said 
writing was ordered to be burned, as seditious and scanda- 
lous, and the proceedings were taken off the file. 4 

[1633.] Sir David Eowlis was one of his Majesty's sworn 
counsel in the northern parts, one of the Deputy Lieutenants, 
and Justice of the Peace of the North Riding, Yorkshire. 
He was, with Sir Thomas Layton and Henry Fowlis, Esq., 
prosecuted in the Star Chamber in 1633, (9 Chas. I,) on a 
charge of opposing the King's service, in respect to dissuading 
persons from compounding for fines for Knighthood, and in 
traducing the character of Lord Wentworth, one of the Com- 
missioners for compounding for fines, for which Sir David 
was ordered to be committed to the Eleet, to be fined £5000 
to the King, and to lose the places of office he then held. And 
also to pay a fine of £3000 to Lord Wentworth. 

On the prosecution of Lord Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, 
in 1640 and 41, Sir David Fowlis and Sir Thomas Layton 
were material witnesses against his Lordship. 5 

1 ' Rushworth,' vol. 5, Appendix, p. 12. 

- ' Howell,' vol. iii, pp. 389, et seq. See also pp. 299—304 of the present 
work. 

3 Charles, Prince of Wales ; afterwards Chas. II. 

4 State Paper Office, London. 

5 'Howell's State Trials,' 8vo, 1816, vol. iii. 






DUCHESS DUDLEY. 



21 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 



Sir Robert Dudley's other wife, who was left by him in 
England, Lady Alice Dudley, third daughter of Sir Thomas 
Leigh, of Stoneley, is said to have been a woman of great parts, 
and of distinguished piety. King Charles I. granted to her, by 
letters patent under the Great Seal, the rank, style, and title 
of a Duchess, during the term of her natural life ; and also 
the same privileges and precedencies to her daughters, as if 
they had been a Duke's daughters ; and in the preamble to 
the letters patent for this purpose, the legitimacy of Sir 
Robert Dudley is asserted, and the injustice that had been 
done him is acknowledged. Duchess Dudley also, by the 
assistance of her friends, secured to herself and her daughters 
the remains of that great fortune which devolved to Sir Robert 
Dudley, in consequence of the Earl of Leicester's will, and 
other conveyances. She lived many years after the title of 
Duchess was conferred on her, and distinguished herself by 
her uncommon charity and benevolence. She had five daugh- 
ters : Aliza and Douglas, died unmarried ; Katherine, married 
Sir Richard Leveson, K.B. ; Frances, married Sir Gilbert 
Kniveton, Knight; and Anne, married Sir Robert Holborne, 
Solicitor-General to Charles I. 

" The Duchess outlived all her five daughters, 1 except the 
youngest. She resided for many years in the parish of St. 
Giles-in-the-fields, London ; and she died there 22nd Jan., 
1668-9, in her ninetieth year. Her brother, Sir John Leigh, 
was the father of the first Lord Leigh, of Stoneley, which 

' She had seven daughters, see note 2 at foot of page 286, 



324 DUCHESS DUDLEY. 

title subsisted till the latter part of the last century, and has, 
since it became extinct or dormant, been the subject of one 
of the most remarkable of modern Peerage cases." 1 

St. Giles-in-the-fields, London, was, soon after the dissolu- 
tion of the monasteries by Hen. VIII., granted by that 
monarch to John Dudley (then Lord Lisle and Great 
Admiral of England), grandfather to Duchess Dudley's 
husband. 

The Hospital of St. Giles was founded in 1117 by Matilda (or 
Maud), daughter of Malcolm King of Scotland, and Queen of 
Hen. I. Edward III. attached this hospital to that of Burton 
St. Lazar, in Leicestershire, 4 April, 1354. 

" On the dissolution of the monasteries, Hen. VIII. kept the 
Hospital and its precincts six years in his possession, and in 1545 
bestowed it on Lord Lisle, together with Burton St. Lazar, by 
the following grant. (Rent to the Crown £4 .6.3.) 

" ' The King, to all to whom it may concern, sends greeting. Be 
it known that we, in consideration of the good, true, faithful, and 
acceptable councel and services to us, by our beloved counsellor 
John Dudley, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, 
Viscount Lisle, and our Great Admiral of England, before time 
done and performed, of our special grace, and of our certain 
knowledge and mere motion, have given and granted, and by these 
presents do give and grant, to the said John Dudley, Viscount 
Lisle, all the late dissolved Hospital of Burton St. Lazar, other- 
wise called the Hospital of St. Lazarus of Burton, with all its 
rights, members, and appurtenances, in our County of Leicester, 
lately dissolved, and in our hands now being, and all the late Hos- 
pital of St. Giles in the Melds, without the bars of London, with 
all its rights, members, and appurtenances, in our said County of 
Middlesex, in like manner dissolved of late, and in our hands now 
being. And also all that our Hectory and Church of Felth am, with 
all its rights, members, and appurtenances, in our said County 
of Middlesex, to the late hospital of Burton aforesaid, belonging 
and appertaining, or being part or possession thereof, and the ad- 
vowson, donation, free-disposition, and right of patronage of the 
yicarage of the parish of Feltham, in our said County of Middlesex, 

J ' Romance of the Peerage,' by George Lillie Craik, vol. iii, 1849. 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 325 

of the possessions of the late hospital of Burton aforesaid, being, 
belonging, and appertaining. 

" 'And also all and singular the manors, messuages, rectories, 
churches, &c. (amongst others) and the parish of St. Giles in the 
Fields, without the bars of London, and in Holbourne, Feltham, 
and Edmonton (Edlemeton) in our said County of Middlesex, and 
in the City of London, and elsewhere, and wheresoever, within our 
Kingdom of England, to the said late hospital of Burton St. Laza- 
rus otherwise the hospital of Burton St. Lazar, and of the said late 
hospital of St. Giles in the Eields, without the bars of London, or 
either of the same late hospitals of Burton aforesaid, in anywise 
belonging, or appertaining, or as parcel or possession of the said 
late hospital of Burton aforesaid, and the said late hospital of St. 
Giles in the Eields, or either of the said late hospitals, heretofore 
possessed, known, accepted, used, are reputed to belong.' 

" By this Grant, all the possessions of the Hospital of St. Giles 
(not expressly mentioned in the exchange with the King) were 
vested in Lord Lisle. They consisted of the Hospital, its site 
and gardens, the Church and Manor of St. Giles, the Pittaunce 
Croft, JSTewland, Le Lane and other lands in the Parish of St. 
Giles. Also of the Church of Eeltham, and Lands at Edmonton, 
and of the several rent charges, and hereditaments in the City of 
London and in the suburbs thereof, and in the fields of West- 
minster, and at Charing, as described in the hospital possession. 

" After this Grant Lord Lisle fitted up the principal part of the 
hospital for his own residence, leasing out other subordinate parts 
of the structure, and portions of the adjoining grounds, garden, &c, 
and at the end of two years he conveyed the whole of the premises 
to John Wymonde Carewe, Esq., by license from the King, in the 
last year of his reign, to wit — 

" ' The King, to all whom it may concern, sends greeting. Know 
ye, that we, of our special grace, and in consideration of the sum 
of Seven pounds and sixteen shillings, paid to us in our hanaper, 
do grant and give license, and by these presents, have granted and 
given license, for us and our heirs, as much as in us lies, unto our 
beloved John Dudley, Knight of our order of the Garter, Viscount 
Lisle, and our Great Admired of England, to Grant and Sell, dispose 
of, alienate or acknowledge by fine in our Court, before our Jus- 
tices of our Common bench, or in any manner whatsoever at his 
pleasure, unto John Wymonde Carewe, Esq., all that his mansion, 



3.26 DUCHESS DUDLEY. 

place or capital house, late the house of the dissolved Hospital of 
St. Giles in the Fields, in the County of Middlesex,' &c. 

"This Charity, founded by royal munificence, had subsisted 
under varied circumstances from 1117 to 1547, forming a period 
of 430 years, when it finally fell a prey to the rapacity of a 
monarch, whose ' catalogue of vices,' as Hume remarks, ' would 
comprehend many of the worst qualities incident to human nature.' 

" The capital mansion or residence which Lord Lisle fitted up 
for his own accommodation, was situate where the soap manufac- 
tory of Messrs. Dix and Co. now is [1829], in a parallel direction 
with the Church, but more westward. It was afterwards occu- 
pied by the much celebrated Alice, Duchess Dudley, who was 
buried therefrom in the reign of Charles II. anno 1669, 
aged 90. This house was afterwards the town residence of Lord 
Wharton. 

" A building situate on the site where Dudley Court now stands, 
was with a garden attached, purchased by Duchess Dudley in 
1646, and was given for a perpetual mansion for the Incumbent. 
Some time previous to 1722 it was probably taken down, Dudley 
Court having been erected on the ground it had before occupied. 
It was, there is little doubt, as well as Dudley House which ad- 
joined it, once part of the ancient hospital. The Eector of St. 
Giles, for the time being, is still entitled to receive the rents, &c, 
of Dudley Court, where this residence stood." 1 

Stow, in his 'Survey of London' (Strype, 1720), 

says — - 

" But of all the benefactors of St. Giles's Church and Parish, 
the Lady Alice, Duchess Dudley, must stand in the fore front. 
She lived in her house near the Church, and there she died, at the 
age of ninety years, and hath a monument in the said Church, 
though her corpse was conveyed to the Church of Stoneleigh in 
"Warwickshire, and there entombed; in which parish she was 
born. But now to give a catalogue of this Lady's charities, as 
Dr. Boreman, sometime Incumbent, took them out of the 
Church's Register, and published them with her funeral sermon, 
anno 1669. 

Sir Eobert Dudley died at Florence in 1649. Lady Alice, 

1 Dobie's ' Hist, of the United Parishes of St. Giles and St. George, Blooms- 
bury,' 8vo, Lond., 1829. 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 327 

Duchess Dudley, died possessed of a portion of the vast fortune 
of her husband's father, (the Earl of Leicester,) at her house near 
the Church, 22d Jany., 1668-9, aged 90. 

" Doctor Boreman, in his funeral sermon, says, ' She was a 
magazine of experience ; her vast memory, which was strong and 
vigorous to admiration, was the storehouse and treasury of 
observation and knowledge of occurrences for many years.' 

" When the former Church of St. Giles, which was decayed by 
age, lay, as it were, in rubbish, there being a void space at the 
upper end of the chancel, wherein were old coffin boards and the 
bones of dead men thrown, she, being offended at the unhand- 
some prospect, erected a decent screen to divide the said 
chancel from that place, to hide it from the eyes of those that 
passed by. 

" "When the foresaid old church was fallen, with the fall thereof, 
that screen was demolished, the parishioners erected a new church 
in the room and place where the former stood. It began to be 
built anno 1623, and was finished with the wall about it, anno 
1631 ; many hundreds of good Christians in other parishes con- 
tributing to so good a work. And then did this Lady give to 
the said work, and the wall encompassing the Church, many 
hundred pounds. Of which her magnificent bounty, the then 
grateful parishioners erected a monument, which is placed over 
the great gate on the north side of the Church. The words 
engraven on a large square stone, are these : 

" ' Quodfcelix bonumque fit Posteris, Hoc Templum loco Veteris 
ex annosa Yetustate collapse, mole et splendore auctum multo, 
Parcecorum charitas Instauravit. Inquibus pientissimae Heroinas 
D. Alicise Duddeley, munificentia gratummarmorishujus meretur 
Eloquium. Huic etiam accessit aliorum quorundam pietas. 
Quibus provisa? in cselo sunt Grates.' 

"Translation. — ' This Temple, (may it be a blessing to posterity,) 
was built in the place of a former one, which had fallen from the 
effects of time. But augmented in size, and with great splendour, 
by the Christian beneficence of the parishioners, among whom the 
munificence of the pious Lady Alice Dudley deserves the grateful 
tribute of this marble. The pious contributions of some others, 
whose reward is in heaven, aided the work.' " l 

" The Church being finished, that the inside of it might cor- 
respond with that which is without, the said Lady gave hangings 
1 Dobie's ' Hist. <>f St. Giles and St. Georpre, Bloomsburv,' 8vo, 1829. 



328 DUCHESS DUDLEY. 

of Watchet taffata to cover the upper end of the chancel, and 
those bordered with a silk and silver fringe. 

" Item. For the back of the altar, a rich green velvet cloth, 
with these three letters in gold, I.H.S., embroidered on it. 

" Two service books, in folio, embossed with gold. 

" A green velvet cloth, with a deep gold fringe, to cover the 
altar on Sundays. 

" A cambric altar cloth, with a deep bone lace round about. 

" Another fine damask altar cloth. 1 

" Two cushions for the altar, richly embroidered with gold. 

"A large Turkey carpet, to be spread on the week days 
over it. 

" A beautiful screen of carved work, which was placed where 
the former in the old Church stood. 

" Moreover, she gave a neat pair of organs, with a case richly 
gilded. 

" Item. Very costly handsome rails, to guard the altar, or the 
Lord's table, from profane abuses. 

" Item. The communion plate of all sorts, in silver and gilt, for 
that sacred use, which is as large and rich as any in the city and 
suburbs. 

" Besides all this, she was at the charge of paving the upper end 
of the Church with marble. And gave the great bell in the 
steeple ; which as oft as it ringeth sounds her praise. And was 
at the charge of casting and hanging the other five bells. 

" Only this bell and the foresaid plate excepted, all the fore- 
named ornaments of the Church, (being counted superstitious and 
Popish,) were demolished and sold, (under pretence of relieving the 
poor out of the money received for them,) by the Reformers, (as 
they were called,) in the civil war time. 

" Besides these largesses and Christian liberalities to St. Giles', 
she gave long since to the Churches of Stoneleigh, Manchester, 
Leke Wotton, Ashow, Kenilworth, and Monks Kirby, all in War- 
wickshire, twenty pounds and upwards per annum, apiece, for a 
perpetual augmentation to the poor Yicarages of those respective 
Churches for ever. 

'• Moreover, she bestowed on the same Churches, and likewise 
upon the Churches of Bidford, in/the foresaid County of Warwick, 
Acton in Middlesex, St. Albans in Hertfordshire, Patshil in 
Northampton, divers pieces of fair and costly plate, to be used at 
the celebration of the holy commuuion in each of them. 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 329 

" Besides all this, she purchased a fair house aud garden near 
the Church of St. Giles, aforesaid; and gave it for a perpetual 
mansion to the incumbents after three lives, whereof two were 
expired, anno 1669. 

" She also allowed a yearly stipend to the Sexton of this Church, 
to toll the great bell, when the prisoners condemned to die, shall 
be passing by, and to ring out after they shall be executed. 

" She likewise gave great suras of money for the repairing of 
the Cathedral Church at Litchfield, and for the re-edifying of 
St. Sepulchres in London. 

" All these, with many more, were the products and fruits of 
her noble charity while she lived. And at her death she made 
the following bequests. 

I. " For the redemption of Christian captives from the hands 
of infidels, £100 per annum for ever. 

II. " To the Hospital situate near the Church here in St. Giles, 
£400 for £20 a year for ever. 

III. " For the placing out for ever of poor parish children of 
St. Giles', apprentices, £200, to purchase a piece of land at £10 
per annum ; and two to be put out every year. 

IV. " To the poor of the foresaid parishes of Stoneleigh, Kenil- 
worth, Leke "Wotton, Ashow, Bidford, in the foresaid County of 
"Warwick; and Patshill, Litchborough and Blakesley, in the 
County of Northampton, £100 per annum to be disposed and 
distributed among them, in such sort and manner as her Will 
directs her Executrix. And 

Y. " Upon the day of her funeral, £50 to be distributed among 
the poor of the said parish of St. Giles', and other adjoining 
parishes. 

YI. " To Fourscore and ten widows, according to the number 
of years she lived, she bequeathed to each a gown, and a fair white 
kerchief, to attend the hearse wherein her body was carried, and 
one shilling apiece for their dinner after that solemnity was per- 
formed ; which was on the 16th day of March 1668-9. 

TIL " She appointed by her will £5, to be given to every place 
or town where her corpse should rest in its passage from London 
unto Stoneleigh, where she had a noble monument, long since 
prepared by herself. 

VIII. " She ordered that sixpence should be given to every 
poor body that should meet her corpse on the road. 

IX. "She gave to Blakesley, Litchborough and Patshill £10 



330 DUCHESS DUDLEY. 

apiece, to be distributed among the poor, the same day her corpse 
was interred. 

X. " To the parish of Stoneleigh £50, which was distributed 
the same day. 

" There is a monument set up for her in St. Giles' Church, thus 
inscribed, 

" 'Alice, Dutchess Dttddeley. 

" 'A Lady of a vast charitable mind, and who did many good deeds 
to that parish. She died anno 1669, third daughter of Sir Thomas 
Leigh of Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, Knt. and Bart. Her mother 
was Katharine, daughter to Sir John Spencer of Wormleighton, 
Knt., and great grandfather to Earl Sunderland. The foresaid 
Sir Thomas Leigh had by the said Katharine, John Leigh, Knt., 
who was the father of the Lord Leigh, Baron of Stoneleigh. 

" ' There is her funeral sermon preached by Dr. Boreman, Minis- 
ter of St. Giles, and a narrative of her life and death, which was 
published after the sermon. 

" ' She was the relict of Sir Eobert^Dudley, Knt., son to Eobert, 
late Earl of Leicester ; and for his excellent merits created a Duke 
by Eerdinand 2d, late Emperor of Germany. She was by letters 
patent, bearing date, at Oxford the 20 of May, 20 Chas. I., 
advanced by him to the title of a Duchess ; being by the foresaid 
Eobert, the mother of five 1 daughters, Alice ; Douglas ; Frances, 
wife of Sir Gilbert Kniveton, Knt. ; Anne, wife of Sir Eobert 
Holborn, late of Lincoln's Inn. All these deceased ; and Katha- 
rine, the only surviving picture, in piety and goodness of her Lady 
mother, and widow of Sir Eichard Levison, Knt. of the Bath. 
She was born in the town of Stoneley.' 

" There is a catalogue of ber charities to the reparation and re- 
building of the Church and the ornaments of the altar ; besides 
her charity to Stoneley, where her body lies entombed, and many 
other Churches and augmentations of poor Vicarages. She pur- 
chased a fair house and garden near the Church of St. Giles for 
the incumbent there, and other charities ; which we all set down 
in an account of her good deeds in her life and at her death. 2 

A monument was erected towards the lower end of the Church 
of St. Giles in the Eields to " The Eight Honorable the Lady 
Frances Kniveton, wife of Sir Gilbert Kniveton of Bradley in the 

1 She had seven daughters, see note 3 at foot of page 286. 

2 S tow's ' Survey/ by Strype, Book iv, 82-4. 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 331 

County of Derby, Bart. She was one of the five daughters and 
co-heirs of Sir Kobert Dudley, Knt., Duke of the Empire, by the 
Lady Alice his wife and Dutchess. The honor and title of 
Dutchess Dudley was by letters patent of King Charles I. allowed, 
and confirmed by King Charles 2d. 

" The Right Honorable the Lady Anne Holborne, sister of the 
said Lady Prances. Another daughter of the said Duke and 
Duchess, died 1663." 1 

In this year (1669) was published — 

" A mirror of Christianity and a miracle of charity," or a true 
and exact narrative of the life and death of the most virtuous Lady 
Alice Duchess Dudley. Sm. 4to, 1669. 

Dedicated to Catharine Levison, relict of Sir Richard, and only 
surviving daughter of the Duchess. The Duchess died in her 
house near St. Giles's Church, 22d Jany. 1669, in her 90th 
year. 

Her patent stated to be 20 May, 20 Chas. I. 2 



[1669.] In Heraldic Collections, Addl. MSS., 12,514, 
fo. 277, is the following, in the handwriting of Sir Wm. 
Dugdale : 

" Order of the proceeding to the funeral of the Eight Honor- 
able Lady Alice, Duchess Dudley, 16th March, 1668-9. 

" The hearse covered with velvet, &c, drawn by six horses, har- 
nessed with velvet, &c, on each side, whereof the banner rolls, in 
number eight, borne by gentlemeu, and eight footmen attending 
thereon. 

" The Lady Katherine Leveson, chief mourner, in her coach, 
covered with black. 

" The Lady's assistants in other coaches, 
" The coaches of the nobility, and others, in due order." 
Heralds and pursuivants, Dr. Boreman, Parson of St. Griles, 
among the attendants on the funeral. 3 



*b 



1 Stow's ' Survey,' by Strype. 

2 B.M., ' Grenville Cat./ 1376. 

3 ' Additional MSS.' — British Museum. 



332 DUCHESS DUDLEY. 

[1669.] Sir William Dugdale, in his f Diary/ says, under 
date 1668-9— 

"Mar. 16. I came out of London with the corpse of the 
Duchess Dudley (who died at her house near St. Giles Church in 
Holborn, 22d Jany.) to St. Albans. 

"17. ToLayton in Bedfordshire.— 18. To Northampton.— 19. 
To Dunchurch. — 20. To Stoneleigh — where the said corpse was 
interred." 

[1670.] " Concerning Duchess Dudley's Grift for Redemption 
of Captives." 

" At Whitehall, the 9th of September, 1670. 

" Upon reading this day at the Board, the humble petition of 
John Cooke, Solicitor for poor captives, praying, that the Trustees 
in the will of the late Duchess Dudley may be commanded to make 
a legal settlement of the sum of One hundred pounds per annum 
for ever, for the redemption of poor English captives taken by the 
Turks, given to that use by the last Will and Testament of the 
said Duchess. It was ordered by his Majesty in Council, that 
the said petition be, and it is hereby, referred to the Eight Honor- 
able the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, who is desired 
speedily to take it into consideration, and by the most effectual 
ways and means he can to settle the said gift, that the same, to- 
gether with the arrears thereof, may be employed to the use for 
which it was intended by the donor." 1 

[1673.] Lady Katherine Leveson, the only surviving 
daughter of the Duchess, died at Trentham, in Staffordshire, 
in 1673. A mural tablet to the memory of this lady, one of 
the daughters of Sir Robert Dudley, is in the Collegiate 
Church of St. Mary, Warwick, over the door leading from 
the Chapel to the Oratory, with the following inscription : 

" To the memory of the Lady Katherine (late wife of Sir 
Hichard Leveson, of Trentham, in the County of Staff., Knt. of the 
Bath), one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Robert Dudley, 
Knt., son to Robert late Earl of Leicester, by Alicia his wife, 2 
daughter to Sir Tho. Leigh of Stoneley, Knt. and Bart, (created 

1 < Privy Council Register/ Chas. 2d, Vol. 9. 

a A noble monument to the memory of this lady is erected in the chancel 
of Stoneleiirh church. 



DUCHESS DUDLEY. 333 

Duchess Dudley by K. Charles I. in regard that her said husband, 
leaving this Realm, had the title of a Duke confer'd upon him by 
Ferdinand II. Emp'r of Germany ,) which honorable Lady taking 
notice of these Tombs of her noble Ancestors 1 being much blem- 
ished by consuming time, but more by the rude hands of impious 
people, were in danger of utter ruin by the decay of this Chapel, 
if not timely prevented ; did in her life time give Fifty pounds 
for its speedy repair : and by her last Will and Testament, bear- 
ing date xvm° Dec. 1673 bequeath forty pounds per annum, 
issuiDg out of her manor of Foxley, in the County of Northamp- 
ton, for the perpetual support and preservation of these monu- 
ments in their proper state ; the surplusage to be for the poor 
Brethren of her Grandfather's Hospital in this Borough [War- 
wick]. Appointing "William Dugdale, of Bltthe Hall, in this 
County, Esq. (who represented to her the necessity of this good 
work,) and his heirs, 2 together with the Mayor of Waewick for 
the time being, to be her Trustees therein. 3 

1 The tombs referred to are those of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, 
Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and the young Lord Denbigh, infant son 
of the Earl of Leicester. 

2 William Stratford Dugdale, Esq., the representative of this family and 
trustee in 1849. 

3 ' Description of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary, Warwick, 5 by Hand?, 
12mo. 



APPENDIX 



APPENDIX. 



John Appleyard [See Note, p. 10), 

The following entries in reference to John Appleyard 
appear in the Privy Council Register Books : 

[1553] 26th July. " It is ordered that John Appleyard, Esq., 
of Brakenaske, in Norfolk, shall not he dismissed, but is com- 
manded to attend from time to time within four miles of the 
Court, wheresoever it shall be, until other order be taken for him, 
and to give knowledge to her [the Queen's] Counsell, where he 
bestoweth himself. 

" The said John Appleyard is charged with v h remaining in 
his hands of the goods of the Lord Eobert [Dudley], and to 
make payment thereof when he shall be thereto required by the 
order of the Counsell,"' 

1556. At St. James's the 20th Jlatj, 1556. 1 

A letter of appearance to John Appleyard; Esq. 

At St. James's the 2Sth May, 1556. 

; ' Johannis Appleyarde de Brakenasshe, in Com. ^N"orff. armiger, 
recognovit se debere sereniss. Dnus Begi et Begine, quingentas 
marcas bone et legalis monete Angliae." &c. 

" The condicion of this recognizance is such that if the above- 
named John Appleyard. Esq., do give from henceforth his con- 
tinual attendance upon the Queen's highness's Commissioners, 
who lately sent for him, and do not depart hence without express 
license of them obtained thereunto, that then this present recog- 
nizance to be void and of none effect, or else to stand, &c. &c. 
(Signed) '•' Jokn~ Appleyarde. " 

1 Pr. Council Resr., Mary, vol. i. 

22 



338 APPENDIX. 

1565. At Westminster, 22nd Dec, 1565.' 

" A letter to the Earl of Bedford that whereas the Queen's 
Majesty hath appointed John Appleyard, Esq., to be Grentleman 
Porter of that town of Berwick, he is required to give order that 
the said Appleyard may receive all such fees and profits as are 
incident to that office, and are reserved since the death of Selby, 
late porter there, &c. According to the minute in the Council 
chest." 

1574. At Greenwich, 6th April, 1574. 2 

" A letter to the Sheriff of Norfolk, that whereas the Queen's 
Majesty's pleasure was that John Appleyard, prisoner in the 
Castle of Norwich, should, for his better health's sake, have 
liberty to remain in the said [sheriff's house, he is therefore to 
receive him accordingly, there to remain till he had other order 
to the contrary." 

1574. At Greenwich, Zlst May, 1574. 3 

" A letter to the sheriff of Norwich signifying that her 
Majesty's pleasure is, that John Appleyard should be committed 
to the custody of the Dean of Norwich. 

" A letter to the said Dean to receive him and suffer him to 
enjoy such liberty as he may always be forthcoming when occa- 
sion shall require." 



In 1553,, when Lord Robert was confined to the Tower, 
Amye Dudley was permitted occasionally to visit him there. 
The following is one of the orders issued by the Privy Council 
for that purpose : 

At Richmond the 5th September, 1553. 

" Another letter to the Lieutenant of the Tower, whereby he 
is willed to permit these ladies following, to have access unto 
their husbands, and there to tarry with them so long and at such 
times, as by him shall be thought meet. That is to say, the Lord 
Ambrose's wife, the Lord Eobert's wife, Sir Francis Jobson's 
wife, Sir H. Gates' wife, and Sir Eichard Corbett's wife." 4 

1 Pr. Council Reg., Eliz., vol. i. 2 Hid. vol. ii. 

3 Ibid. vol. ii. 4 Ibid. Mary, vol. ii. 



APPENDIX. 339 

Will of Sir John Robsart. 

{See Note top. 12.) 

In the Norwich Register — Walpole, p. 77. 

" In the name of Grod, Amen. I, John Robsart, Esq., bequeath 
my soule to Almightie Grod, and my bodie to be buried where it 
shall please God. Item, I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my 
wiffe all that my Manor of Sydesterne and Newton in the 
Countie of JSTorf., with all appurtenances to them belonginge, 
both free and bonde, wheresover they lie. And also I give and 
bequeath to the same Elizabeth all that my mannor of Bosten- 
tim [?] in the Countie of Suff., with all the singular appurtenances 
to that belonginge, both free and bond, wheresoever they lie 
within the said countie, for tearme of her liffe, the remainder to 
Amye my dawter and her heirs for ever. And as for all my other 
goodes, both moveables and unmoveables, I give them holie to 
Elizabeth my wiffe whom I ordeign and make my sole Executrix. 

"In witness, &c, dated 6th October, 28 Henry 8th (1537), 
King of Englande and ffrance, lorde of Ireland, and within the 
said realme supreme hede of the Church. Immediatlie under 
God. 

" Proved at Norwich 5th July, 1554 [1st Mary] and 
Administration granted to the widow in the person of 
[J]ames Biggott." x 

" Per nie, Tboroaua Alchracke, 
" Ricardum Cattyn." 



Sedistern (page 5). Bloomfield states that Sedistern was 
granted 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1557] to Lord Robert for 
life. Presuming that Sir John Robsert died in 1554, by the 
terms of the above Will Lord Robert must have come into 
possession in that year. Amye's mother died in 1549. 

1 James Biggot, or Bigot, was m. to Anna, daughter of Elizabeth Scott, (by 
her first husband,) and half sister to Amye Ptobsart. (See Pedigree on page 11.) 



3^0 APPENDIX. 

Stanfteld Hall (p, 12). 

" Sir James Altham, an eminent lawyer in his time, was third 
son of James Altham, of Marks Hall, Essex, Esq., by his first 
wife, who was sister and heir of Sir Thomas Blancke. He was 
Eeader at Grays Inn, 1602, Sergeant-at-law, 1603, Baron of the 
Exchequer, 9 Feb., 1606, Knighted by James I. at Whitehall, 
15th February following. He raised a plentiful fortune by his 
profession, and died 21st February, 1616-17 at his seat at Oxley, 
in Hertfordshire, and buried in tbe chapel there with his lady" 
[Daughter of Auditor Sutton.] 1 



Bainthorp Hall (page 15). Now in the possession of 
the Honorable Frederick Walpole, M.P. for Norfolk, 
brother of the Earl of Orford. 



Cousin Blount (note to page 32). Mr. Craik, in his 
' ' Romance of the Peerage/' 2 thinks that " Cousin [Thomas] 
Blount" was the second son of Thomas Blount, Esq., of 
Kidderminster. 

Clutterbuck, in his History of Hertfordshire/ says, "In 
1555, the Princess Elizabeth was taken from the monastery 
of Ashridge, in the County of Bucks, upon the false pretence 
of being engaged in Sir Thomas Wyat's rebellion, and was 
placed at Hatfield under the charge of Sir Thomas Pope, 
whose wife, Margaret, was the daughter of Walter Blount, 
of Osbaston, County of Leicester (younger branch of the 
family of Lord Mountjoy). She was succeeded by her 
nephew Thomas Blount, who is usually called Sir Thomas 
Pope Blunt." 

The latter may have been the " Cousin Blount"" to whom 
Leycester's letters were addressed at the time of the Coroner's 
Inquest. 

1 Nichols's Biblioth. Topog. Brit., vol. ii, p. 18. 

2 Craik, vol. i, p. 130 3 Clutterbuck, vol. i, p. 208, 



APPENDIX. 841 



Authors cited, addition to (p. 62). 

Edmund Lodge, in his Biography of eminent persons, 
attached to " Portraits of Illustrious Personages/'' falls into 
the errors of his predecessors in attaching importance to 
Ashmole's narrative, without stopping to inquire whence 
Ashmole derived his information ; the circumstance that 
Ashmole omitted all reference to authority for the statements 
he made ought to have awakened suspicion, or at all events 
to have induced some inquiry. 



Mrs. Hyde, a connection of the family (p. 63). 

The Grandfather of Sir Edward Unton, who married Anne, 
Countess of Warwick (widow of John Earl of Warwick) 
was Thomas Unton, and he married Elizabeth, daughter 
and co-heir of John Hyde, of Denchworth. 



Verney (p. 88). Sir Greville Verney married Catherine 
daughter of Sir Robert Southwell. Richard Verney, 2nd 
son, married 1st Mary, daughter of Sir John Prettyman ; 
2nd Frances Dove, of Upton, co. Northamp. 

Verney (p. 89) . 2 Frances, daughter of George Raleigh, 
or Rawley, of Earnborough, co. Warwick. 

3 Jane was the sister of Sir Thomas Lucy. 



342 APPENDIX. 

" The Dictum de Kenilworth" (referred to on page 102,) was 
made by twelve persons, bishops and peers of the King's selec- 
tion ; the object of which was to soften the severity of the par- 
liament holden at "Winchester, which had entirely confiscated the 
estates of the rebels and their adherents ; instead of which, this 
decree — that they might not be rendered desperate — sentenced 
them only to a pecuniary fine of not more than five years' income 
of their estates nor less than two." 

(Seattle's Castles of England, p. 217.) 



Kenilworth (Note to page 106). 

On the occasion of the Queen's visit it is stated that she was 
attended by thirty-one barons, the ladies of her Court, and four 
hundred inferior servants. — Beattie. 

" It was in his castle of Kenilworth that Leicester first mar- 
ried Lady Essex privately ; but her father, Sir Francis Knolles, 
being well acquainted with Leicester's inconstancy, refused to 
give any credit to it unless the marriage was solemnized in his 
own presence. In consequence of this resolution, the ceremony 
was again performed at Wanstead, in presence of the said Sir 
Francis, Ambrose .Earl of "Warwick, the Lord North, a public 
notary, and several other witnesses." 

(Beattie 's Castles of England, p. 247.) 



Ground Plan of Kenilworth Castle, at the time of the 
Queen's visit in 1575 (facing page 106). 

" Consulting the ground plan of Kenilworth, we find that the 
dungeons lay at the western extremity of the castle, the part 
which is now most ruinous. They were situated under Mervyn's 
Tower — a sallyport of the castle, and which we apprehend formed, 
with Caesar's Tower, the substance of the original fortress — 
probably Saxon. This portion of the ruins we examined, but 
found it a mere shapeless heap, with some indications of strong 
vaultings, sufficient to justify the belief of their having been 



APPENDIX. 343 

places of confinement in the ruder and more warlike days of the 
Barony. Kenilworth, in the absence of additions absolutely 
modern, affords specimens of the architecture of more various 
periods than most English castles. The Keep or Cesar's Towee, 
(No. 1) corresponds in some important points with the recognised 
specimens of Saxon building extant at Bamborough, showing the 
same narrow buttresses traversing the entire elevation ; and a 
window remaining on the eastern face of the keep, narrow, with 
a circular arch, and diminishing inward to a mere slit, is of cor- 
responding time. Supposing the body of the Keep to date before 
the Norman Conquest, we take the wings to be of Norman addi- 
tion, from their being similar to the castle at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
built immediately after the Conquest. Some portions on the 
western side indicate additions made about the time of Edward 
the Third, by John of G-aunt, and called Lancaster's Building 
(No. 2) ; some of the windows of the Great Hall (15) are beau- 
tiful examples of this period. Near this quarter, on the south- 
western angle of the group, are some turrets constructed so as to 
be defended by three arches back to back, the loopholes extending 
outwards, and giving them the means of annoying an invading 
party under a sufficient cover. In Leicester Buildings (No. 3) 
are some elegant remains, particularly a superb Oriel; and 
in this part are the details of a very delicate and elaborate 
style." 

(Seattle's Castles of England, p. 258.) 



Rooms of State (see pages 111, 112). 

" The Hall, in which were held so many splendid reunions 
and banquets, is still magnificent in decay. Its proportions are 
ninety feet in length, forty-five in breadth, and the same in 
height — proportions which were generally observed by the ancient 
builders in all edifices where harmony of parts and grandeur of 
effect were to be combined. In the windows the richness of the 
mouldings and tracery still remains as a proof of what they must 
have been when, on the decoration of this castle, all that art 
could accomplish or wealth command was lavishly bestowed . . . 
On each side of the hall is a fireplace ; near to the inner court 



344 APPENDIX. 

is an oriel, in plan comprehending five sides of an octagon, and a 
fireplace. On the side opposite is a recess with a single window 
and a small closet, said to have been Queen Elizabeth's dressing- 
room." 

Leycester Chimney Piece (facing page 112). 

"This justly-admired specimen of art is of alabaster, finely 
sculptured with bears and rugged staves, and the monogram of 
the Earl of Leycester. When freshly gilded, and placed in a 
becoming situation, it justly deserved, says a writer of taste, to 
be eulogised as a work of decided skill and merit. Having hap- 
pily escaped the Cromwellian devastation, the mantel-piece, toge- 
ther with the oaken pillars which surmount it, were removed from 
one of the principal apartments or presence chamber of Leicester- 
Buildings, to the room which they now occupy — an oak-pannelled 
chamber in the old Gate House." 

(Beanie's Castles of England, p. 260.) 



(Page 286.) 

Wood, in his Athence Oxoniensis, 1 in speaking of Sir 
Robert Dudley, says : 

" It was plainly proved in open Court, before those that were 
then judges, that he was legitimate. 

" He missed his design (that of proving his legitimacy) by 
the endeavours of Lettice his father's widow, who well knew 
that if he could obtain it, it would have much redounded to her 
dishonour, she being his father's reputed wife when this our 
Eobert Dudley was born." 

1 By Bliss, vol. in, p. 359. 

Finis. 



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book, which treats On the Ancient British, Roman, and Saxon Antiquities and 
F I re of TTG-rwstershire, has now reached a second edition ; and as Mr. 
Allies has embodied in this, not only the additions made by him to the original 
work, but also several separate publications on points of folk-lore and legendary 
interest, few counties can boast of a more industriously or carefully compiled 
history of what may be called its ppular antiquities. The work is very 
handsomely illustrated." — Notes and Queries. 

ANDERSON (Wm.) Genealogy and Sxvrnames, with some Heraldic 
and Biographical Notices. 8vo, woodcuts of Arms and Seals, 
cloth. 3s 6d (original price 6s) 1865 

ANGLO-SAXON Version of the Life of St. Guthlac, Hermit of 
Croyland. Printed, for the first time, from a MS. in the 
Cottonian Library, with a Translation and Notes by Chaeles 
Wycliffe Goodwin-, M.A.. Fellow of Catherine Hall, Cambridge. 
12mo, cloth. 5s 

ANGLO-SAXON Version of the Hexameron of St. Basil, and the 
Anglo-Saxon Remains of St. Basil's Admonitio ad Filiuin Spiritu- 
alem. Now first printed from MSS. in the Bodleian Library, 
with a Translation and Notes by the Rev. H. W. Normal. 8vo, 
second edition, enlarged, seiced. 4s 

ANGLO-SAXON. — Narratiunculae Anglice Conscripta. De perga- 
menis excribebat notis illustrabat eruditis copiam, faciebat T. 
Oswald Cockat>-e, M.A. 8vo. 6s 

Containing Alexander the Great's Letter to Aristotle on the situation of 
India — Of wonderful things in the East — The Passion of St Margaret the 
Virgin — Of the Generation of Man, <fec. 

ANGLO-SAXON. — A Fragment of JElfric's Anglo-Saxon Grammar, 
iElfric's Glossary, and a Poem on the Soul and Body, of the 
Xllth Century, discovered among the Archives of Worcester 
Cathedral, by Sir Thomas Phtllipps, Bart. Folio, privately 
prlkted, tewed. Is 6d 
Several other Anglo-Saxon works will be found in this Catalogne. 



< BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD B7 

ARCH^EOLOGIA CAMBRENSIS.— A Record of the Antiquities, 
Historical, Genealogical, Topographical, and Architectural, of 
Wales and its Marches. First Series, complete, 4 vols, 8vo, 
many plates and woodcuts, cloth. £2. 2s 

Odd Parts may be had to complete Set3. 

Second Series, 6 vols, 8vo, cloth. £3. 3s 

Third Series, vol 1 to 12. £1. 10s each 

Published by the Cambrian Arch geological Association. 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.— Report of the Transactions 
of the Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute held at 
Chichester, July, 1853. 8vo, many plates and woodcuts, cloth, 
7s 6d 
Printed uniformly with the other Annual Congresses of the Institute. 

ARCHER FAMILY.— Memorials of Families of the Surname of 
Archer in various Counties of England, and in Scotland, Ireland, 
Barbadoes, America, &c, By Capt. J. H. Lawrence Archer. 
4to, out few copies printed, cloth. 12s 6d 

ATKINSON'S (George, Serjeant at Law) Worthies of Westmoreland ; 
or, Biographies of Notable Persons Born in that County since 
the Reformation. 2 vols, post 8vo, cloth. 6s (original price 16s) 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY of Joseph Lister (a Nonconformist), of 
Bradford, Yorkshire, with a contemporary account of the 
Defence of Bradford and Capture of Leeds, by the Parliamen- 
tarians, in 1642. Edited by Thos. Wright, F.S. A. 8vo, cloth. 2s 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY of Thomas Wright, of Birkenshaw, in the 
County of York, 1736-1797. Edited by his Grandson, Thomas 
Wright, M.A., F.S. A. Fcp. 8vo, pp. 376, cloth. 5s 
Particularly interesting about Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, and their neighbour- 
hoods, and a curious picture of manners and persons in the middle of the last 
century. 

AUTOGRAPHICAL Miscellany ; a Collection of Autograph Let- 
ters, Interesting Documents, &c, executed in facsimile by 
Fredk. Netherclift, each facsimile accompanied with a page 
of letter-press by R. Sims, of the British Museum. Royal 4to, 
a handsome vol, extra cloth. £1. Is {original price £1. 16s) 
Containing sixty examples of hitherto unpublished Letters and Documents 
of Blake, Boileau, Buonaparte, Burns, Calvin, Camden, Carrier, Catherine de 
Medicis, Charles I., Chatterton, Congreve, Crammer, Cromwell, Danton, 
D'Aubigne, Dryden, Edward VI., Elizabeth, Elizabeth (sister of Louis XVI.), 
Franklin, Galilei, Glover, Goethe, Goldsmith, Henry VIII. , Hyde (Anne), James 
II., Jonson, Kepler, Kotzebue, Latimer, Loyola, Louis XIV., Louis XVI., 
Luther, Maintenon, Maria Antoinette, Marlborough, Marmontel, Mary Queen 
of Scots, Melancthon, Newton, Penn, Pompadour, Pole (Cardinal), Raleigh, 
Ridley, Robespierre, Rousseau, Rubens, Sand, Schiller, Spenser, Sterne, Tasso, 
Voltaire, Walpole (Horace), Washington, Wolfe, Wolsey, Wren, and Young. 

For the interesting nature of the documents, this collection far excels all the 
prepious ones. With two exceptions (formerly badly executed), they have 
never been published before. 

BAIGENT (F. J., of Winchester) History and Antiquities of the 
Parish Church of Wyke, near Winchester. 8vo, engravings. 
2s 6d 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 5 

BANKS' (Sir T. C.) Baronia Anglia Concentrata, or a Concentration 
of all the Baronies called Baronies in Fee, deriving their Origin 
from "Writ of Summons, and not from any Specific Limited 
Creation, showing the Descent and Line of Heirship, as well 
of those Families mentioned by Sir William Dugdale, as of 
those whom that celebrated Author has omitted to notice ; in- 
terspersed with Interesting Notices and Explanatory Eemarks. 
Where to is added, the Proofs of Parliamentary Sitting, from 
the Reign of Edward I. to Queen Anne ; also, a Glossary of 
Dormant English, Scotch, and Irish Peerage Titles, with reference 
to presumed existing Heirs. 2 vols, 4to, cloth. 15s (original 
price £3. 3s) 

Laege Paper Copt {very fexo printed). 2 vols. £1. Is 

A book of great research, by the well-known author of the " Dormant and 
Extinct Peerage," and other heraldic and historical works. Those fond of 
genealogical pursuits ought to secure a copy while it is so cheap. It may be 
considered a supplement to his former works. Vol. ii. pp. 210-300. contains 
an Historical Account of the first Settlement of Nova Scotia, and the foundation 
of the Order of Nova Scotia Baronets, distinguishing those who had seizin of 
lands there. 

BANKS' ("W. Stott, of Wakefield) Walks in Yorkshire. I. In the 
North West. II. In the North East. Thick f cap. 8vo, 2 large 
maps, cloth. 5s 

N. E. portion separately, comprising Redcar, Saltburn, 



Whitby, Scarborough, and Filey, and the Moors and Dales 
between the Tees, &c. Fcap. 8vo, sewed. Is 6d 

BARBER (G-. D., commonly called Barber-Beaumont) Suggestions on 
the Ancient Britons, in 3 parts. Thick 8vo, cloth. 7s 6d 
{original price 14s) 

BARKER. — Literary Anecdotes and Contemporary Reminiscences 

of Professor Porson and others, from the Manuscript Papers of 

the late E. H. Barker, Esq., of Thetford, Norfolk, with an 

Original Memoir of the Author. 2 vols, 8vo, cloth. 12s 1852 

A singular book, full of strange stories and jests. 

BARKER (W. Jones) Historical and Topographical Account of 

Wensleydale, and the Valley of the Yore, in the North Riding 

of Yorkshire. 8vo, illustrated with views, seals, arms, &c, cloth. 

4s 6d (original price 8s 6d) 

"This modest and unpretending compilation is a pleasant addition to our 

topographical literature, and gives a good general account of a beautiful part 

of England comparatively tittle known. It is handsomely printed with a 

number of finely executed woodcuts by Mr. Howard Dudley .... No 

guide to the district exists applicable alike to the will-filled and scantly furnished 

purse — a defect which the auhor has endeavoured to supply by the present 

volume. 

BARNES (Rev. W.) Tiw ; or a View of the Roots and Stems of the 
English as a Teutonic Tongue. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 5s 

"I hold that my primary roots are the roots of all the Teutonic languages; 
and, if my view is the true one, it must ultimately be taken up by the Ger;nan 
and other Teutonic grammarians, and applied to their languages." — The Author. 



6 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

BARN ES (Rev. William, of Came Rectory, Dorchester) A Philological 
Grammar, grounded upon English, and formed from a com- 
parison of more than Sixty Languages. Being an Introduction 
to the Science of Grammars of all Languages, especially English, 
Latin, and Greek. 8vo (pp. 322), cloth. 9s 
" Mr. Barnes' work is an excellent specimen of the manner in which the 
advancing study of Philology may be brought to illustrate and enrich a scientific 
exposition of English Grammar." — Edinburgh Guardian. 

" Of the science of Grammar, by induction from the philological facts of 
many languages, Mr. Barnes has, in this volume, supplied a concise and com- 
prehensive manual. Grammarians may differ as to the regularity of the 
principles on which nations have constructed their forms and usagas of speech, 
but it is generally allowed that some conformity or similarity of practice may 
be traced, and that an attempt may be made to expound a true science of 
Grammar. Mr. Barnes has so far grounded his Grammar upon English as to 
make it an English Grammar, but he has continually referred to comparative 
philology, aDd sought to render his work illustrative of general forms, in 
conformity with principles common, more or less, to the language of all 
mankind. More than sixty languages have been compared in the course of 
preparing the volume ; and the general principles laid down will be found 
useful in the study of various tongues. It is a learned and philosophical 
treatise." — Literary Gazette. 

BARNES (Rev. W.) Anglo-Saxon Delectus ; serving as a first Class- 
Book to the Language. 12mo, cloth. 2s 6 d 
" To those who wish to possess a critical knowledge of their own Native 
English, some acquaintance with Anglo-Saxon is indispensable ; and we have 
never seen an introduction better calculated than the present to supply the 
wants of a beginner in a short space of time. The declensions and conjuga- 
tions are well stated, and illustrated by references to Greek, the Latin, French, 
and other languages. A philosophical spirit pervades every part. The Delectus 
consists of short pieces on various subjects, with extracts from Anglo-Saxon 
History and the Saxon Chronicle. There is a good Glossary at the end." — 
Aihenceum, Oct. 20, 1849. 

BARNES (Rev. W.) Notes on Ancient Briton and the Britons. 
Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 3s 

" Mr. Barnes has given us the result of his Collections for a Course of 
Lectures on this subject, and has produced a series of Sketches of the Ancient 
Britons, their language, laws, and modes of life, and of their social state a3 
compared with that of the Saxons, which will be read with considerable 
interest. " — Notes and Queries, 

" We are very glad to meet with such pleasant and readable ' Notes' as Mr. 
Barnes'. They are very unaffected essays, imparting much warmth to the 
old carcase of British lore, and evincing some real study. He has found out 
the value of the old Welsh laws, and has made some useful comparisons 
between them and those of the Saxons with much freshness if not absolute 
novelty. " — Guardian. 

BARNES' (Rev. W.) Views of Labour and Gold. Fcp. 8vo, cloth. 3s 
"Mr. Barnes is a reader and a thinker. He has a third and a conspicuous 
merit — his style is perfectly lucid and simple. If the humblest reader of 
ordinary intelligence desired to follow out the process by which societies are 
built up and held together, he has but to betake himself to the study of Mr. 
Barnes's epitome. The title "Views of Labour and Gold," cannot be said to 
indicate the scope of the Essays, which open with pictures of primitive life, 
nad pass on, through an agreeably diversified range of topics, to considerations 
of the rights, duties, and interests of Labour and Capital, and to the enquiry, 
What constitutes the utility, wealth, and positive well being of a nation? 
Subjects of this class are rarely handled with so firm a grasp and such light and 
artistic manipulation." — A thenceum. 

' ' The opinion of such a Scholar and Clergyman of the Established Church on 
subjects of political economy cannot fail to be both iuteresting and instructive 
and the originality of some of his views and expressions is well calculated to 
attract and repay the mots careful attention." — Finanieal Reformsr. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 7 

BARNES' (Rev. W.) Poems, partly of Rural Life, in National Eng- 
lish. 12mo, cloth. 5s 

BARNES' (Rev. W.) Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect. 
Fcap. 8vo, first collection, fourth edition, cloth. 5s 

Second Collection, second edition, fcap. 8vo, cloth. 5s 

Third Collection, fcap. 8vo, cloth. 4s 6d 

BATEMAN (Thos., of Youlgrave, Derbyshire) Vestiges of the An- 
tiquities of Derbyshire, and the Sepulchral Usages of its Inha- 
bitants, from the most Remote Ages to the Reformation. 8vo, 
with numerous icoodcuts of Tumuli and their contents, Crosses, 
Tombs, &c, cloth. 15s 

BATEMAN' S (Thomas) Ten Years' Diggings in Celtic and Saxon 
Grave Hills, in the Counties of Derby, Stafford, and York, from 
1848 to 1853, with Notices of some former Discoveries hitherto 
unpublished, and Remarks on the Crania and Pottery from the 
Mounds. 8vo, numerous woodcuts, cloth. 10s 6d 

BATTLE ABBEY.— Descriptive Catalogue of the Original Charters* 
Grants, Donations, etc., constituting the Muniments of Battle 
Abbey, also the Papers of the Montagus, Sidneys, and Web- 
sters, embodying many highly interesting and valuable Records 
of Lands in Sussex, Kent, and Essex, with Preliminary Memo- 
randa of the Abbey of Battel, and Historical Particulars of the 
Abbots. 8vo, 234 pages, cloth. Is 6d 

BEDFORD'S (Rev. W. K. Riland) The Blazon of Episcopacy, being 
a complete List of the Archbishops and Bishops of England and 
"Wales, and their Family Arms drawn and described, from the 
first introduction of Heraldry to the present time. 8vo, 144 
pages, and 62 pages of drawings of Arms, cloth. 15s 
This work depicts the anus of a great number of English Families not to 

be found in other works. 
" There has been an amount of industry bestowed upon this curious work 
which is very creditable to the author, and will be found beneficial to all 
who care for the subject on which it has been employed." — Athenaeum. 

BERRY'S (W.) Pedigrees and Arms of the Nobility and Gentry of 
Hertfordshire. Folio (only 125 printed), bds. £1. 10s {original 
price £3. 10s) 

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL MISCELLANY, edited by John Petheram. 
8vo, Nos. 1 to 5 (all published), with general title. Is 
Contents. — Particulars of the Voyage of Sir Thomas Button for the Dis- 
covery of a North-West Passage, a.d. 1612— Sir Dudley Digges' Of the Cir- 
cumference of the Earth, or a Treatise of the North-East Passage. 1611-13 — 
Letter of Sir Thomas Button on the North- West Passage, in the State-Paper 
Office — Bibliographical Notices of Old Music Books, by Dr. Rimbault — 
Notiees of Suppressed Books — Martin Mar Prelate's Rhymes — The Hardwiokf- 
Collection of Manuscripts. 

BIBLIOTHEQUE Asiatique et Africane, ou Catalogue des Ouvrages 
relatifs a l'Asie et a l'Afrique qui ont paru jusqu'en 1700, par 
H. Ternaux-Compass. 8vo, avec supplement et index, sewed. 
10s 6d 



8 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

" BIBLIA PAUPERUM." One of the earliest and most curious 

Block Books, reproduced in facsimile from a copy in the British 

Museum, by J. Ph. Berjeau. Royal 4to, half hound. £2. 2s 

The Biblia Pauperum, known also by the title of Historic Veterjs et 

Novi Testamenti, is a set of woodcuts in which the Old and New Testament 

are both brought to memory by pictures, and some lines of text in Latin. This 

name, Biblia Pauperum, is derived from its use by monks of the poorer orders 

commonly called Pauperks Christi. 

As a specimen of the earliest woodcuts and of printed block-books, destined 
to supersede the manuscripts anterior to the valuable invention of Guttenberg, 
the Biblia Pauperum is well worthy the attention of the amateur of Pine Arts 
as well as of the Bibliographer. It consists of 40 engravings, printed on one 
side only of the leaves, and disposed so as to have the figures opposite to each 
other. 

The engravings were printed by friction, with a substance of a brownish 
colour instead of printing ink, which was unknown at this early period. To 
imitate as near as possible the original, the plates in this facsimile are disposed 
opposite each other, and printed in a brownish colour. Various editions of this 
Block-Book have been discovered, without any writer being able to say which 
is the first one. A review of them is given in the printed Introduction of the 
book. 

Besides the rhymed Latin Poetry — of which part was given by Heinecken, 
and after him by Ottley— the Introduction gives, for the first time, the whole 
of the Text printed on both sides in the upper compartment, as well as an 
English Explanation of the subject. 

Only 250 copies have been printed, uniformly with Mr. S. Leigh 
Botherbv's Principta Typographica. 

BIGSBY'S (Robert, M.A., LL.D.) Historical and Topographical 
Description of Repton, in the County of Derby, with Inciden- 
tal View of objects of note in its Vicinity. 4to, a handsome 
volume, with seventy illustrations on copper, stone, and wood, 
cloth. 18s (original price £3. 3s) 
BLAKE (M.) A Brief Account of the Destructive Fire at Blandford . 
Forum, in Dorsetshire, June 4, 1731. Reprinted from the edi- 
tion of 17 35, with a plan and 2 views. 4to, cloth. 2s 6d 

BLAVIGNAC (J. D., Architecte) Histoire de 1'Architecture Sacree 
du quatrieme au dixieme siecle dans les anciens eveche's de 
Geneve, Lausanne, et Sion. One vol, 8vo, 450 pages, 37 plates, 
and a 4to Atlas of 82 plates of Architecture, Sculpture, Frescoes, 
Reliquaries, &c, &c. £2. 10s 
A very remarkable book, and worth the notice of the Architect, the Archae- 
ologist, and the Artist. 

BOYNE (W., F.S.A.) Tokens issued in the Seventeenth Century in 

England, Wales, and Ireland, by Corporations, Merchants, 

Tradesmen, &c, described and illustrated. Thick 8vo, 42 plates, 

cloth. £1. Is (original price £2. 2s) 

Nearly 9500 Tokens are described in this work, arranged alphabetically under 

Counties and Towns. To the Numismatist, the Topographer, and Genealogist, 

it will be found extremely useful. 

BOSWORTH (Rev. Joseph, D.D., Anglo-Saxon Professor in the 

University of Oxford) Compendious Anglo-Saxon and English 

Dictionary. 8vo, closely printed in treble columns. 12s 

" This is not a mere abridgment of the large Dictionary, but almost an entirely 

new work. In this compendious one will be found, at a very moderate pried 

all that is most practical and valuable in the former expensive edition, with a 

great accession of new words and matter."— Author's Preface. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 9 

BOSWORTH and WARING.— Four Versions of the Holy Gospels, 
viz., in Gothic, a.d. 360 ; Anglo-Saxon, 995 ; Wycliffe, 1389 ; 
and Tyndale, 1526, in parallel columns, with Preface and Notes 
by the Rev. Dr. Bosworth, Professor of Anglo-Sa^on in the 
University of Oxford, assisted by George Waring, M.A., of 
Cambridge and Oxford. One vol, 8vo, above 600 pages, cloth. 
12s 6d 
A very low price has been fixed to ensure an extended sale among students 

and higher schools. 



Large Paper. 4to, a handsome volume, not many printed. 

cloth. £2. 2s 

" The texts are printed in four parallel columns, and very great care appears 
to have been taken iu their collation and correction." — Athenaeum. 

" We heartily welcome this volume, brought out with so much care and 
ability ... It does credit to the printers of the University. . „ . The work is 
scholarlike, and is a valuable contribution to the materials for Biblical Criti- 
cism. . . We heartily commend it to the stndy of all who are interested either 
in the philology of the English language, or in the history and formation of our 
Authorized Version."— The Christian Remembrancer, a Quarterly Review. 

" It may almost be a question, whether the present volume phssesses greater 
interest for the divine or for the philologist. To the latter it must certainly be 
interesting from the opportunity which it affords him of marking the gradual 
development of our languages. The four versions of the Gospel, . . . with a 
learned and instructive preface, and a few necessary notes, form a volume, the 
value and importance of which need scarcely be insisted upon."— Notes and 
Queries. 

BLAKEY (Robert) Historical Sketches of the Angling Literature of 
all Nations, to which is added a Bibliography of English Writers 
on Angling, by J. R. Smith. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 5s 

BOWLES (Rev. W., Lisle) Hermes Britannicus, a Dissertation on the 
Celtic Deity Teutates, the Mercurius of Csesar, in further proof 
and corroboration of the origin and designation of the Great 
Temple at Abury, in Wiltshire. 8vo, Ids, 4s (original price 8s 6d) 

BRIDGER'S (Charles) Index to the Printed Pedigrees of English 
Families contained in County and Local Histories, the " Herald's 
Visitations," and in the more important Genealogical Collec- 
tions. Thick 8vo, cloth. 10s 6d 
A similar work to Sims's "Index of Pedigrees in the MSS. in the British 

Museum. What that is for Manuscripts this is for Printed Books. It is the 

most complete Index of its kind, and contains double the matter of other 

hasty productions. 

BROOKE (Richard, F.S.A.) Visits to Fields of Battle in England, 
of the XVth Century, with some Miscellaneous Tracts and 
Papers, principally upon Archaeological Subjects. Royal 8vo, 
plates, cloth. 15s 
The work contains a descriptive account of the scenes of most of the memo- 
rable conflicts in the Wars of York and Lancaster, comprising the celebrated 
battles of Shrewsbury, Blore Heath, Northampton, Wakefield, Mortimer's 
Cross, Towton, Barnet, Tewkesbury, Bosworth, and Stoke, and genealogical 
and other particulars of the powerful, warlike, and distinguished personages 
who were the principal actors in those stirring and eventful times, with plans 
of some of the fields of Battle, and an Appendix containing the principal 
Acts of Attainder relative to the Wars of the Roses, and Lists of the Noble- 
men, Knights, and other personages attainted by them. 



10 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

BROOKE (Richard) A Descriptive Account of Liverpool, as it was 
during the last Quarter of the XVIIIth Century, 1775—1800. 
A. handsome vol, royal 8vo, with illustrations, cloth. 12s 6d 
{original price £1. 5s) 
In addition to information relative to the Public Buildings, Statistics, and 
Commerce of the Town, the work contains some curious and interesting par- 
ticulars which have never been previously published, respecting the pursuits, 
habits, and amusements of the inhabitants of Liverpool during that period, 
with views of its public edifices. 

BRUCE (Dr. J. Collingwood, Author of the "Roman Wall") The 
Bayeux Tapestry Elucidated. 4to, a handsome volume, illus- 
trated with 17 coloured plates, representing the entire Tapestry, 
extra Ids. £1. Is. 

BUCHANAN (W.) Memoirs of Painting, with a Chronological His- 
tory of the Importation of Pictures by the Great Masters into 
England since the French Revolution. 2 vols, 8vo, ids. 7s 6d 
(original price £1. 6s) 

BUNNETT (H. Jones, M.D.) Genoa, with Remarks on the Climate, 
and its influence upon Invalids. 12mo, cloth. 4s 

BURKE (John) Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct 
and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland, and Scotland. 
Medium 8vo, second edition, 638 closely printed pages, in 
double columns, with about 1000 Arms engraved on wood, fine 
port, of James I., cloth. 10? (original price £1. 8s) 
This work engaged the attention of the author for several years, comprises 
nearly a thousand families, many of them amongst the most ancient and 
eminent in the kingdom, each carried down to its representative or repre- 
sentatives still existing, with elaborate and minute details of the alliances, 
achievements, and fortunes, generation after generation, from the earliest to 
the latest period. 

CALTON'S (R. Bell) Annals and Legends of Calais, with Sketches 
of Emigre* Notabilities, and Memoirs of Lady Hamilton. Post 
8vo, with frontispiece and vignette, cloth. 5s 
Principal Contents. — History of the Siege by Edward III. in 1346-7, with 
a roll of the Commanders and their followers present, from a contemporary 
MS. in the British Museum — The Allotment of Lands and Houses to Edward's 
Barons — Calais as an English borough — List of the Streets and Householders of 
the same— Henry VIHth's Court there— Cardinal Wolsey and his expenses — 
The English Pale, with the names of Roads, Farmsteads, and Villiages in the 
English Era— The Sieges of Therou/mne and Tournai— The Pier of Calais— Pros 
and Cons of the place— The Hotel Dessin— Sterne's Chamber— Churches of Notre 
Dame and St. Nicholas— The Hotel de Ville— Ancient Staple Hall— The Chateau 
and Murder of the Duke of Gloucester — The Courgain — The Field of the 
Cloth of Gold — Notice of the Town and Castle of Guisnes, and its surprise by 
John de Lancaster — The Town and Seigneurio of Ardres— The Sands and Duel- 
ling — Villages and Chateau of Sangatte, Coulgon, Mark, Eschalles, and Ham- 
mes — Review of the English Occupation of Calais, and its Recapture by the 
Duke de Guise — The Lower Town and its Lace Trade— Our Commercial Rela- 
tions with France— Emigre Notabilities— Charles and Harry Tufton, Captain 
Dormer and Edith Jacquemont, Beau Brummel, Jemmy Urquhart, and his 
friend Fauntleroy, " Nimrod," Berkeley Craven, Mytton, Duchess of Kingston 
— A new Memoir of Lady Hamilton, &c. Altogether an interesting volume on 
England's first Colony. 

BURN'S (J. Southerden) The High Commission, Notices of the 
Court and its Proceedings. 8vo, cloth, only 100 printed. 3a 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SO HO SQUARE. 



11 



BURN's (J., Southerden) History of Parish Registers in England, 
and Registers of Scotland, Ireland, the Colonies, Episcopal 
Chapels in and about London, the Geneva Register of the Pro- 
testant Refugees, with Biographical Notes, etc. Second edition, 
greatly enlarged, 8vo, cloth. 10s 6d 

CAMBRIDGE. — Hist^ria Collegii Jesu Cantabrigiensis, a J. Sher- 
manno, olim prses. ejusdem Collegii. Edita J. 0. Halliwell. 
8vo, cloth. 2s 

CARDWELL (Rev. Dr., Professor of Ancient History, Oxford) Lec- 
tures on the Coinage of the Greeks and Romans, delivered in 
the University of Oxford. 8vo, cloth. 4s {original price 8s 6d) 
A very interesting historical vohime, and written in a pleasing and popular 



CARTWRIGHT.— Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Mechanical 

Inventions of Edmund Cartwright, D.D., F.R.S., Inventor of 

the Poxver Loom, &c. Edited by E. H. Strickland. Post 8vo, 

engravings, boards. 2s 6d {original price 10s 6d) 

It contains some interesting literary history, Dr. Cartwright numbering 

among his correspondents, Sir W. Jones, Crabbe, Sir H. Davy, Fulton, Sir S. 

Raffles, Langhorne, and others. He was no mean Poet, as his legendary tale of 

"Armine and Elvira" (given in the Appendix) testifies. Sir W. Scott says it 

contains some excellent poetry, expressed with unusual felicity. 

CATALOGUE {Classified) of the Library of the Royal Institution 
of Great Britain, with Indexes of Authors and Subjects, and a 
List of Historical Pamphlets, chronologically arranged. By 
Benj. Vincent, Librarian. Thick 8vo, pp. 948, half morocco, 
marbled edges. 15s 
It will be found a very useful volume to book collectors, and indispensable 

to public librarians. 

CHADWICK (William) The Life and Times of Daniel De Foe, with 
Remarks, Digressive and Discursive. 8vo, pp. 472, portrait, 
cloth 10s 6d. 
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CHRONICLE of London from 1089 to 1483, written in the 15th 
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"THE GAME OF THE CHESSE," the First Book printed in 

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15 



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The first county history published, and one of the most amusing and naive 

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Useful for foreigners in Great Britain, and to Britons abroad, particularly of 

fchose who desire to be presented at Foreign Courts, to accept Foreign Military 

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JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 21 

LETTERS of the KINGS of ENGLAND— Now first collected 
from the Originals in Royal Archives, and from other Authen- 
tic Sources, Private as well as Public. Edited, with Historical 
Introduction and Notes, by J. 0. Halliwell. Two handsome 
volumes, post 8vo, with portraits of Henry VIII. and Charles 
/., cloth. 8s (original price £1. Is) 
These volumes form a good companion to Ellis's Original Letters. 
The collection comprises, for the first time, the love-letters of Henry VIII. 
to Anne Boleyn, in a complete form, which may be regarded, perhaps, as the 
most singular documents of the kind that have descended to our times ; the 
series of letters of Edward VI. will be found very interesting specimens of 
composition; some of the letters of James I., hitherto unpublished, throw 
light on the Murder of Overbury, and prove beyond a doubt the King was im- 
plicated in it in some extraordinary and unpleasant way ; but his Letters to the 
Duke of Buchingham are of the most singular nature ; only imagine a letter 
from a Sovereign to his Prime Minister commencing thus ; " My own sweet and 
dear child, blessing, blessing, blessing on thy heart-roots and all thine." 
Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham's Jouruey into Spain has never 
been before so fully illustrated as it is by the documents given in this 
work, which also includes the very curious letters from the Duke and Du- 
chess of Buckingham to James I. 

LIBER ALBUS : the White Book of the City of London. Com- 
piled a.d. 1419, by John Carpenter, Common Clerh; Richard 
Whitttngton, Mayor. Translated from the Original Latin and 
Anglo-Norman, by H. T. Riley, M.A. 4to, pp. 672 (original 
price 18s), the few remaining copies offered, in cloth, at 9s- Half 
morocco (Roxburghe style), 10s 6d — Whole bound in vellum, car- 
mine edges, 12s — Whole morocco, carmine edges, 13s 6d 
Exteusively devoted to details which must of necessity interest those who 
care to know something more about their forefathers than the mere fact 
that they have existed. Many of them — until recently consigned to obli- 
vion ever since the passing away of the remote generations to which they be- 
longed—intimately connected with the social condition, usages, and manners of 
the people who — uncouth, unlearned, ill-housed, ill-fed, and comfortless though 
they were, still formed England's most important, most wealthy, and most in- 
fluential community throughout the chequered and troublous times of the 13th 
and 14th centuries. During this period, in fact, there is hardly a phase or 
feature of English national life upon which, in a greater or less degree, from 
these pages of the " Liber Albus," some light is not reflected. 



LIBRARY OF OLD AUTHORS. 

Elegantly and uniformly printed in foolscap 8vo, in cloth. Of 
there are large paper copies for the connoissenr of choice boohs. 

THE Vision and Creed of PIERS PLOUGHMAN. Edited by Thomas 
Wright ; a new edition, revised, with additions to the Notes 
and Glossary. 2 vols. 10s 1856 

"The Vision of Piers Ploughman' is one of the most precious and interest- 
ing monuments of the English Language and Literature, and also of the social 
and political condition of the country during the fourteenth century. . . . 
Its author is not certainly known, but its time of composition can, by internal 
evidence, be fixed at about the year 1362. On this and on all matters bearing 
upon the origin and object of the poem, Mr, Wright's historical introduction 
gives ample information. .... In the thirteen years that have passed 
since the first edition of the present text was published by the late Mr. 
Pickering, our old literature and history has been more studied, and we trust 
that a large circle of readers will be prepared to welcome this cheaper and 
cs-refully revised reprint. "—Literary Gazette. 



22 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

THE Dramatic and Poetical Works of John Marston. Now first 
collected, and edited by J. 0. Halliwell, F.R.S., &c. 3 vols. 
15s 1856 

"The edition deserves well of the public; it is carefully printed, and the 
annotations, although neither numerous nor extensive, supply ample explana- 
tions upon a variety of interesting points. If Mr. Halliwell had done no more 
than collect these plays, he would have conferred a boon upon all lovers of 
our old dramatic poetry." — Literary Gazette. 

REMARKABLE Providences of the Earlier Days of American Co- 
lonisation. By Increase Mather, of Boston, N.E. With In- 
troductory Preface by George Offor. Portrait. 5s 1856 
A very singular collection of remarkable sea deliverances, accidents, remark- 
able phenomena, witchcraft, apparitions, &c, &c, connected with inhabitants 
of New England, &c, &c. A very amusing volume, conveying a faithful por- 
trait of the state of society, when the doctrine of a peculiar providence and 
personal intercourse between this world and that which is unseen was fully 
believed. 

THE Table Talk of John Selden. With a Biographical Preface and 
Notes by S. W. Singer. Third edition, portrait. 5s 1860 

Large paper. Post 8vo, cloth. 7s 6d 1860 

" Nothing can be more interesting than this little book, containing a lively 
picture of the opinions and conversations of one of the most eminent scholars 
and most distinguished patriots England has produced. There are few volumes 
of its size so pregnant with sense, combined with the most profound earning! 
it is impossible to open it without finding some important fact or discussion, 
something practically useful and applicable to the business of life. Coleridge 
says, ' There is more weighty bullion sense in this book than I ever found in 

the same number of pages in any uninspired writer.' Its merits 

liad not escaped the notice of Dr. Johnson, though in politics opposed to much 
it inculcates, for in reply to an observation of Boswell, in praise of the French 
Ana, he said, ' A few of them are good, but we have one book of the kind better 
than any of them — Selden's Table Talk.' " — Mr. Singer's Preface. 

THE Poetical Works of William Drummond, of Hawthornden. 

Now first published entire. Edited by W. B. Turnbull. Fine 

portrait. 5s 1856 

"The sonnets of Drummond," says Mr. Hallam, "are polished and elegant, 

free from conceit and bad taste, and in pure unblemished English." 

ENCHIRIDION", containing Institutions — Divine, Contemplative 

Practical, Moral, Ethical, (Economical, and Political. By 

Francis Quarles. Portrait. 3s 1856 

"Had this little book been written at Athens or Rome, its author would have 

been classed with the wise men of his country. "—Headley. 

THE Works in Prose and Verse of Sir Thomas Overbury. Now 
first collected. Edited, with Life and Notes, by E. F. Rimbatjlt. 
Portrait after Pass. 5s 1856 

HYMNS and Songs of the Church. By George Wither. Edited, 
with Introduction, by Edward Farr. Also the Musical Notes, 
composed by Orlando Gibbons. With portrait after Hole. 5s 

1856 
"Mr. Farr has added a very interesting biographical introduction, and we hope 
to find that the public will put their seal of approbation to the present edition 
of an author who may fairly take his place on the same shelf with George Her- 
bert."— Gents Mag., Oct., 1856. 



J0H2T RUSSELL SlfLTLT, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 23 

HALLELUJAH ; or, Britain's Second Remembrancer, in Praiseful 

and Penitential Hymns, Spiritual Songs, and Moral Odes. By 

Geoege Wlthee. "With Introduction by Edwaed Faee. 

Portrait. 6s . 1857 

Hitherto this interesting volume has only been known to the public by 

extracts in various publications. So few copies of the original are known to 

exist, that the copy from which this reprint has been taken cost twenty-one 

guineas. 

MISCELLANIES. By John Atjbeey, F.E.S., the Wiltshire Anti- 
quary. Foueth Edition. "With some Additions and an Index. 
Portrait and cuts. 4s 1857 

Contents :— Day Fatality, Fatalities of Families and Places, Portents, Omens, 
Dreams, Apparitions, Voices, Impulses, Knockings. In visible Blows, Prophecies, 
Miracles, Magic, Transportation by an Invisible Power, Visions in a Crystal, 
Converse with Angels, Corpse Candles, Oracles, Bctasy, Second Sight, *&c. ; 
with an Appendix, containing bis Introduction to the Survey of North Wilt- 
shiie. 

THE Iliads of HOMER, Prince of Poets, never before in any language 
truly translated, "with a Comment on some of his chief Places- 
Done according to the Greek by Geoegf Chapman, with Intro, 
duction and Xotes by the Rev. Richard Hoopee. 2 vols, sq. 
fcap. 8vo. Second and Revised Edition, with portrait of 
Chapman, and frontispiece. 12s 1865 

" The translation of Homer, published by George Chapman, is one of the 
greatest treasures the English language can boast." — Godwin. 

"With Chapman, Pope had frequently consultations, and perhaps never 
translated any passage till he read his version." — Dr. Johnson. 

" He covers his defects with a daring, fiery spirit, that animates his transla- 
ti m, which is something like what one might imagine Homer himself to have 
writ before he arrived at years of discretion " — Pope. 

" Chapman's translation, with all its defects, is often exceedingly Homerie, 
which Pope himself seldom obtained." — Eallam. 

"Chapman writes and feels as a Poet— as Homer might have written had he 
lived in England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth."— Coleridge. 

" I have just finished Chapman's Homer. Did you ever read it ? — it has the 
most continuous power of interesting you all along. . . . The earnestness 
and passion which he has put into every part of these poems would be incredi- 
ble to a reader of mere modern translation." — Charles Lamb. 

HOMER'S ODYSSEY. Translated according to the Greek by 
Geoege Chapman. With Introduction and Notes by Rev. 
Richard Hoopee. 2 vols, square fcp. 8vo, with facsimile of the 
rare original frontispiece. 12s. 1857 

HOMER'S Battle of the Frogs and Mice ; Hesiod's Works and 
Days ; Mus-eus's Hero andLeander; Juvenal's Fifth Satire. 
Translated by George Chapman. Edited by Rev. Richard 
Hoopee. Square fcp. 8vo, frontispiece after Pass. 6s. 1858 
" The editor of these five rare volumes has done an incalculable service to 
English Literature by taking George Chapmanis folios out of the dust of time- 
honoured libraries, by collating them with loving care and patience; and, 
the agency of his enterprising publisher, bringing Chapman entire and 
complete within the reach of those who can best appreciate and least afford to 
purchase the early editions."— Athenaeum. 



24 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLfihB^ 

POETICAL Works of Eobeet Southwell, Canoti of' Loretto, now 
first completely edited by W. B. TurubuU. £s 1856 

" His piety is simple and sincere— a spirit of unaffected gentleness and kindli- 
ness pervades his poems— and he is equally distinguished by weight of thought 
and sweetness of expression." — Saturday Review. 

THE Dramatic Works of John Webster. Edited, with Notes, etc.* 
by William Hazlitt. 4 vols. £1. 1857 

Large paper, 4 vols, post 8vo, cloth. £1. 10a 

This is the most complete edition, containing two more plays than in Dyce's 
edition. 
THE Dramatic Works of John Lilly (the Euphuist). Now first 

collected, with Life and Notes by F. W. FaIrholt. 2 vols. 

10s. Z 858 - 

Large paper, 2 vols, post 8vo, cloth. I^a^. A-LhJtMA 

THE Poetical Works of Richard Crashaw, Author of P Steps t<r 

the Temple," " Sacred Poems, with other Delights of the 

Muses," and "Poemata,'' now first collected. Edited by W. B. 

Turnbull. 5s. 1858 
" He seems to have resembled Herbert in the turn of mind, but possessed 
more fancy and genius." — Ellts. 

LA MORT d' ARTHUR. The History of King Arthur and the 
Knights of the Round Table. Compiled by Sir Thomas Malory, 
Knight. Edited from "the Edition of 1634, with Introduction 
and Notes, by Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A. 3 vols, second 
and revised edition. 15s. 1866 

Large paper, 3 vols, post 8vo, cloth. £1. 2s 6d 

ANECDOTES and Characters of Books and Men. Collected from 
the Conversation of Mr. Pope and other eminent Persons of his 
Time. By the Rev. Joseph Spence. With Notes, Life, etc., by 
S. W. Singer. The second edition, portrait. 6s. 1858 

Large paper, post 8vo, cloth. 7s 6d. 1858 

" The ' Anecdotes ' of kind-hearted Mr. Spence, the friend of Pope, is one of 
the best books of ana in the English language." — Critic. 

Dr. COTTON MATHER'S Wonders of the Invisible World, being 
an account of the Trials of several Witches lately executed in 
New England, and of the several remarkable curiosities therein 
occurring. To which are added Dr. Increase Mather's Fur- 
ther Account of the Tryals, and Cases of Conscience concerning 
Witchcrafts, and Evil Spirits Personating Men. Reprinted 
from the rare original editions of 1693, with an Introductory 
Preface. Portrait. 5s. 1862 

THE Dramatic and Poetical Works of Thomas Sackville, Lord 
Buckhurst, and Earl of Dorset. With Introduction and Life 
by the Hon. and Rev. R. W. Sackville West. Fine portrait 
from a picture at Buckhurst, noio first engraved. 4s. 1859 

REMAINS of the Early Popular Poetry of England, collected 
and edited by W. Carew Hazlitt. 4 vols, with many curious 
woodcut facsimiles. £1. 1864 — 6 

Large paper, 4 vols, cost 8vo, cloth. £1. 10a 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 



25 



LUCASTA. — The Poems of Richard Lovela.ce, now first edited 
and the Text carefully revised, with Life and Notes by W. 
Carew Hazlitt, with 4 plates. 5s. 1864 



Large paper. Post 8vo, cloth. 7s 6d 



THE Whole of the Works of Roger Ascham, now first collected 
and revised, with Life of the Author. By the Rev. Dr. Giles, 
formerly Fellow of C. C. C, Oxford. 4 vols. £1. 1866 

Large paper, 4 vols, post 8vo, cloth. £1. 10s. 

Ascham is a great name in our national literature. He was one of the first 
founders of a true English style in prose composition, and of the most respect- 
able and useful of our scholars. — Retrospective Review. 



LONG (Henry Lawes) On the March of Hannibal from the Rhone 
to the Alps. 8vo, map. 2s 6d 

LOWER'S (Mark Antony, M.A., F.S.A.) Patronymica Britannica, a 
Dictionary of Family Names. Royal 8vo, 500 pages, with illus- 
trations, cloth. £1. 5s 
This work is the result of a study of British Family Names, extending ovev 
more than twenty years. The favourable reception which the Author's 
"English Surnames" obtained in the sale of Three Editions, and the many 
hundreds of communications to which that work gave rise, have convinced 
him that the subject is one in which considerable interest is felt. He has 
therefore been induced to devote a large amount of attention to the origin, 
meaning, and history of our family designations ; a subject which, when inves- 
tigated in the light of ancient records and of modern philology, proves highly 
illustrative of many habits and customs of our ancestors, and forms a verj 
curious branch of Archaeology. — Preface. 

LOWER'S (M. A.) Curiosities of Heraldry, with Illustrations from 
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ous engravings from designs by the Author. 8vo, cloth. 14s 

"The present volume is truly a worthy sequel (to the 'Surnames') in the 
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mere amusement. The text is so pleasing that we scarcely dream of its ster- 
ling value ; and it seems as if, in unison with the woodcuts, which so cleverly 
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minds and habits of mankind." — Literary Gazette. 

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LOWER'S (M. A.) Contributions to Literature, Historical, Antiqua- 
rian, and Metrical. Post 8vo, woodcuts, cloth. 7s 6d 
Contents : 1. Local Nomenclature— 2. The Battle of Hastings, an Historical 
Essay — 3. The Lord Dacre, his mournful end, a Ballad— 4. Historical and Ar 
chseo'logical Memoir on the Iron Works of the South of England, with numerous 
illustrations — 5. Winchelsea's Deliverance, or the Stout Abbot of Battayle, in 
Three Fyttes — 6. The South Downs, a Sketch, Historical, Anecdotical, and 
Descriptive — 7. On the Yew Trees in Churchyards — 8. A Lyttel Geste of a 
Great e Eele, a pleasaunt Ballad — 9. A Discourse of Genealogy— 10. An Anti- 
quarian Pilgrimage in Normandy, with woodcuts — 11. Miscellanea, &c.,&c. 



26 



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LOWER'S (M. A.) Chronicle of Battel Abbey, in Sussex, originally 
compiled in Latin by a Monk of the Establishment, and now 
first translated, with Notes and an Abstract of the Subsequent 
History of the Abbey. 8vo, with illustrations, cloth. 9s 
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—New Pacts relative to the Norman Invasion — Th» Foundation of the Monas- 
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Chichester, respecting Jurisdiction — The Abbey's Possessions — A Speech of 
Thomas a Becket, then Chancellor of England, in favour of Abbot Walter de 
Luci — Several Miracles — Anecdotes of the Norman Kings — and an Historical 
Sketch of the Abbey, from 1176 to the present time by the Translator. 

LOWER'S (M. A.) Memorials of the Town of Seaford, Sussex. 8vo, 
plates. 3s 6d 

LOWER'S (M. A.) Bodiam (in Sussex), and its Lords. 8vo, engrav* 
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LOWER'S (M. A.) Worthies of Sussex, Biographical Sketches of the 
most eminent Natives or Inhabitants of the County, from the 
Earliest Period to the Present Time, with Incidental Notices 
illustrative of Sussex History. Royal 4to, many engravings, 
cloth. £1. 16s 

LOWER'S (M. A.) Sussex Martyrs, their Examinations and Cruel 
Burnings in the Time of Queen Mary, comprising the interest- 
ing Personal Narrative of Richard Woodman, extracted from 
" Foxe's Monuments." With Notes. 12mo, sewed. Is. 

LOWER'S (M. A.) The Stranger at Rouen, a Guide for Englishmen. 
12mo, plates. Is 

LUKIS (Rev. W. C.) Account of Church Bells, with some Notices of 
Wiltshire Bells and Bell-Founders, containing a copious List of 
Founders, a comparative Scale of Tenor Bells and Inscriptions 
from nearly 500 Parishes in various parts of the Kingdom. 
8vo, 13 plates, cloth. 3s 6d (original price 6s) 

MADDEN (Fred. W., of the Medal Room, British Museum) Hand- 
Book to Roman Coins. Fcap. 8vo, plates of rare examples, cloth. 

5s 

A very useful and trustworthy guide to Roman Coins. 

MANTELL (Dr. Gideon A.) Day's Ramble in and about the Ancient 
Town of Lewes, Sussex. . 12mo, engravings, cloth. 2s 

MARTIN MAR-PRELATE CONTROVERSY. 
AN EPISTLE to the Terrible Priests of the Convocation House. 

By Martin Mar-Prelate. 1588. With Introduction and 

Notes by J. Petherham. Post 8vo. 2s 
COOPER (Bishop of Winchester) An Admonition to the People of 

England against Martin Mar-Prelate, 1589, with Introduction. 

Post 8vo, pp. 216. 3s 6d 
PAP with a Hatchet, being a Reply to Martin Mar-Prelate, 1589, 

with Introduction and Notes. Post 8vo. 2s 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 2? 

HAT any Worke for Cooper ? Being a Reply to the Admonition 
to the People of England. By Martin Mar-Prelate, 1589, with 
Introduction and Notes. Post 8vo. 2s 6d 

AN ALMOND for a Parrot, being a Reply to Martin Mar-Prelate, 
1589, with Introduction. Post 8vo. 2s 6d 

PLAINE PERCEVALL the Peace-Maker of England, being a Reply 
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MATON'S (Dr. W. G.) Natural History of Wiltshire, as comprehen- 
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MAYNARD'S (James) Parish of Waltham Abbey, in Essex, its 
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MENZIES (Mrs. Louisa J.) Legendary Tales of the Ancient Britons, 
rehearsed from the Early Chronicles. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 3 s 
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nedda and Morgan— 4. The Brothers Beli and Bran— 5. Ellidure the Compas- 
sionate — 6. Alban of Verulam — 7. Vortigern— 8. Cadwallon and the Final 
Struggle of the Britons. 

MICHAEL ANGELO considered as a Philosophic Poet, with trans- 
lations by John Edward Taylor. Post 8vo. Second edition. 
Cloth. 2s 6d (original price 5s) 

MILTON'S Early Reading, and the prima stamina of his "Paradise 
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tury (Joshua Sylvester). By Charles Dunster, M.A. 12mo, 
cloth. 2s 6d (original price 5s) 

MILTON ; a Sheaf of Gleanings after his Biographers and Annota- 
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MOORE (Thomas) Notes from the Letters of Thomas Moore to his 

Music Publisher, James Power (the publication of which was 

suppressed in London), with an Introduction by Thomas Crofton 

Croker, F.S.A. Post 8vo, cloth. 3s 6d 

The impressions on the mind of a reader of these Letters of Moore in Lord 

Lord Russell's edition will be not only incomplete, but erroneous, without the 

information to be derived from this very interesting volume. 

MORLAND. — Account of the Life, Writings, and Inventions of Sir 
Samuel Morland, Master of Mechanics to Charles II. By J. 
0. Halliwell. 8vo, sewed. Is 

MUNFORD (Rev. Geo., Vicar of East Winch, Norfolk) Analysis of 

Domesday Book for the County of Norfolk. 8vo, with pedigrees 

and arms, cloth. 10s 6d 

"Many extracts have been made at various times for the illustration of local 

descriptions, from the great national (but almost unintelligible) record known 

as Domesday Book : but Mr. Munford has done more in the case of his own 

county, for he supplies a complete epitome of the part of the survey relating 

to Norfolk, giving not only the topographical and statistical facts, but also a 

great deal that is instructive as to the manners and condition of the people, 

the state of the churches and other public edifices, the mode of cultivation 

and land tenure, together with a variety of points of interest to the ecclesiolo- 

gist and antiquary."— Bury Post. 



28 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

NARES' (Archdeacon) A Glossary, or Collection of Words, Phrases, 
Customs, Proverbs, &c, illustrating the Works of English 
Authors, particularly Shakespeare and his Contemporaries. A 
New Edition, with considerable Additions, both of Words and 
Examples. By James 0. Halliwell, F.R.S., and Thomas 
Wright, M.A., F.S.A. 2 thick vols, 8vo, cloth. £1. Is 
The Glossary of Archdeacon Nares is by far the best and most useful work 
we possess for explaining and illustrating the obsolete language and the cus- 
toms and manners of the 16th and 17th Centuries, and it is quite indispensable 
for the readers of the literature of the Elizabethan period. The additional 
words and examples are distinguished from those in the original text by a \ 
prefixed to each. The work contains between five and srx thousand addi 
tional examples, the result of original research, not merely supplementary 
to Nares, but to all other compilations of the kind. 

NASH'S (D. W., Member of the Royal Society of Literature) Taliesin, 
or, the Bards and Druids of Britain. A Translation of the Re- 
mains of the earliest Welsh Bards, and an examination of the 
Bardic Mysteries. 8vo, cloth. 14s 

NASH'S (D. W.) The Pharaoh of the Exodus. An Examination of 
the Modern Systems of Egyptian Chronology. 8vo, with frontis- 
piece of the Egyptian Calendar, from the ceiling of the Ramasseum, 
at Thebes, cloth. 12s 

NAVAL ARCHITECTURE, Elements of Naval Architecture, being 
a Translation of the Third Part of Clairbois's " Traite Elemen- 
taire de la Construction des Vaisseaux." By J. N. Strange, 
Commander, R.N. 8vo, with five large folding plates, cloth. 5s 

Lectures on Naval Architecture, being the Substance of 

those delivered at the United Service Institution. By E. 
Gardiner Fishbourne, Commander, R. N. 8vo, plates, cloth. 
5s 6d . 

Both these works are published in illustration of the "Wave System." 

NETHERCLIFF'S (F. G.) Hand-Book to Autographs, being a Ready 
Guide to the Handwriting of Distinguished Men and Women of 
Every Nation, designed for the Use of Literary Men, Autograph 
Collectors, and others. Containing 700 Specimens, with a Bio- 
graphical Index by R. Sims, of the British Museum. 8vo, cloth 
extra, gilt edges. 10s 6d (original price 15s) 

The Same. Printed only on one side. 8vo, cloth extra. 

£1. Is 

The specimens contain two or three lines each besides the signature, so that 
to the historian such a work will reccomend itself as enabling him to test the 
genuineness of the document he consults, whilst the judgment of the autograph 
collector may be similarly assisted, and his pecuniary resources economized by 
a judicious use of the Manual. To the bookworm, whose name is Legion, we 
would merely observe, that daily experience teaches us the great value and 
interest attached to books containing Marginal Notes and Memoranda, when 
traced to be from the pens of eminent persons. 

NEWTON (William) A Display of Heraldry. 8vo, many hundred 
engravings of Shields, illustrating the Arms of English Families, 
cloth. 14s 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOILO SQUARE. 



29 



NEWTON (William) London in the Olden Time, being a Topo- 
graphical and Historical Memoir of London, Westminster and 
Southwark ; accompanying a Pictorial Map of the City and 
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NORFOLK'S (E. E.) Gleanings in Graveyards: a Collection of 
Curious Epitaphs. Third Edition, revised and enlarged, fcap. 
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NUMISMATIC Chronicle and Journal of the Numismatic Society. 
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This is the only repertory of Numismatic intelligence ever published in 
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OLD BALLADS. — Catalogue of a unique Collection of 400 Ancient 
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PARISH'S (Sir Woodbine, many years Charge d' Affairs at Buenos 
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almost a new work, from the great quantity of fresh matter it contains on the 
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" The Rev. Beale Poste has long been known to antiquaries as one of the best 
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is a practical man, has investigated for himself monuments and manuscripts, 
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therefore, as an entirely new collection of discoveries and deductions tending 
to throw light on the darkest, as well as the earliest, portion of our national 
history." — Atlas. 

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GIRALDUS Cambrensis, De Instructione Principum, with a Preface, 

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Rev. J. S. Brewer. 8vo, boards. 5s 1846 

Now first printed from the Manuscript in the Cottonian Library, particularly 

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a more lively writer than Giraldus de Barri. 

CHRONICON Monasterii de Bello, with a Preface, Chronological 

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32 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

PROVINCIAL DIALECTS OF ENGLAND 

A DICTIONARY of Archaic and Provincial Words, Obsolete Phrases, 
&c., by J. 0. Halliwlll, F.R.S., &c. 2 vols, 8vo, 1000 pp., in 
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GLOSSARY of Provincial and Local Words Used in England. By 
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BROCKETT'S (J. Trotter) Glossary of North Country Words, with 
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SPKCIMENS of Cornish Provincial Dialect, collected and arranged 
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curious portrait of Dolly Pentreath, cloth. 4s 

OORNISH Dialect and Poems, viz. — 

1 Treagle of Dozmary Pool, and Original Cornish Ballads. 

2 Cornish Thalia : Original Comic Poems illustrative of the 
Dialect. 

3 A Companion to the Cornish Thalia. By H. J. Daniell. 

4 Mirth for "One and all." By H. J. Daniell. 

5 Humourous Cornish Legends. By H. J. Daniell. 

6 A Budget of Cornish Poems, by various Authors. 

7 Dolly Pentreath, and other Humorous Cornish Tales. 

8 The Great Mine Conference, and other Pieces. 

9 Rustic Poems. By George Hamltn, the (< Dartmoor Bloom- 
field." 

10 Mary Anne's Experiences : her Wedding and Trip up the 
Tamar. By H. J. Daniell. 

11 Mary Anne's Career, and Cousin Jack's Adventures. By 
H. J. Daniell. 

12 A New Budget of Cornish Poems. By H. J. Daniell. 

13 Mirth for Long Evenings. By H. J. Daniell. 

14 Bobby Poldree and his Wife Sally at the Great Exhibition 
tion. By H. J. Daniell. All 12mo, Sixpence each. 

A GLOSSARY of the Words and Phrases of Cumberland. By 
William Dickinson, F.L.S. 12mo, cloth. 2s 

JOHN NOAKES and Mary Styles, a Poem, exhibiting some of 
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NATHAN HOGG'S Letters and Poems in the Devonshire Dialect. 

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wrapper. Is. 
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to operate forcibly upon the risible faculties of the reader. In the Witch story 
Nathan has excelled himself, and it is to be hoped we have not seen Lis last 
effort in this branch of local English literature. The superstitions of Jan 
Vaggis and Jan Plant are most graphically and amusingly portrayed, and the 
various incidents whereby the influence of the • Evil Eye ' is sought to be 
counteracted, are at once ludicrous and irresistible." — Plymouth Mail. 

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A GLOSSARY of Words used in Teesdale, in the County of Dur- 
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"Contains about two thousand words . . . It is believed the first and 
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POEMS of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect. By the Rev. WILLIAM 
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8vo, Fourth Edition, cloth, 5s. 

Second Collection. Fcap. 8vo. Second Edition, cloth. 5s. 

Third Collection. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 4s 6d. 

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words and Saxon inflections. We have no intention of setting up the Dorset 
patois against the more extended provincialism of Scotland, still less of com- 
paring the Dorsetshire poet with the Scotch ; yet we feel sure that these poems 
wotdd have delighted the heart of Burns, that many of them are not unworthy 
of him, and that (at any rate) his best productions cannot express a more cordial 
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sorrows."— Literary Gazette. 

GRAMMAR and Glossary of the Dorset Dialect. 
Barnes. 8vo. 2s 6d. 



By the Rev. W. 



DIALECT of South Lancashire, or Tim Bobbin's Tummas and 
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LEICESTERSHIRE Words, Phrases, and Proverbs. By A. B. 
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A GLOSSARY of the Provincialisms of the County of Sussex. By 
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A GLOSSARY of Northamptonshire "Words and Phrases, with Ex- 
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"The provincial dialects of England contain and preserve the elements and 
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it is much more than a vocabulary ; it preserves cot only dialectical peculiarities, 
but odd and disappearing customs ; and there is hardly a page in it which does 
not throw light on some obscurity in our writers, or recall old habits and 
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WESTMORELAND and Cumberland.— Dialogues, Poems, Songs, 
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THE DIALECT of Leeds and its Neighbourhood, illustrated by 

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A LIST of Provincial Words in Use in Wakefield, Yorkshire, with 
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A GLOSSARY, with some Pieces of Verse of the Old Dialect of th. 
English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, Cg 
Wexford, Ireland. Formerly collected by Jacob Poole, oi 
Growton, now edited with Notes and Introduction by the Rev. 
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PUBLICATIONS OF THE CAXTON SOCIETY. 

OV CHRONICLES AND OTHER WRITINGS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE HISTORY 
AND MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 

Uniformly printed in 8vo. with English Prefaces and Notes. Of 

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GAIMAR (Geoffrey) Anglo- Norman Metrical Chronicle of the Anglo 
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LA REVOLTE du Comtb de Warwick contre le Roi Edouard IV., 
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EPISTOLiE Herberti de Losinga, primi Episcopi Norwicensis, et 
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" From the four corners of the earth they come, 
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RAINE'S (Rev. Jas.) Catterick Church, Yorkshire, a correct copy of 
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RAINE (Rev. James) Historical Account of the Episcopal Castle or 
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RAINE (Rev. John, Vicar of Blyth) The History and Antiquities of 
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THE RELIQUARY ; a Depository for Precious Relics, Legendary, 
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REYNOLDS' (Sir Joshua) Note3 and Observations on Pictures 
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"Dr. Rimbault has been at some pains to collect the words of the oong» 

which u»ed to delight the rustic* of former times."— Adas. 



38 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BT 

RIMBAULT (Dr. E. F.) Bibliotheca Madrigaliana.— A Bibliographi- 
cal Account of the Musical and Poetical Works published in 
England during the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, 
under the Titles of Madrigals, Ballets, Ayres, Canzonets, &c, &c. 
8vo, cloth. 5s 
It records a class of books left undescribed by Ames, Herbert, and Dibdin, 

and furnishes a most valuable Catalogue of Lyrical Poetry of the age to which 

it refers. 

ROBERTS' (George, of Lyme Regis) — Life, Progresses, and Rebellion 
of James, Duke of Monmouth, &c, to his Capture and Execu- 
tion, with a full account of the " Bloody Assize," under Judge 
Jefferies, and Copious Biographical Notices. 2 vols, post 8vo, 
plates and cuts, cloth, 7s 6d {original price, £1. 4s.) 
Two very interesting volumes, particularly so to those connected with the 

West of England. Quoted for facts by Lord Macaulay. 

ROBERTS' (George) The Social History of the People of the South- 
em Counties of England in Past Centuries, illustrated in regard 
to their Habits, Municipal Bye-laws, Civil Progress, &c. Thick 
8vo, cloth. 7s 6d (original price, 1 6s) 
An interesting volume on old English manners and customs, mode of travel- 
ling, punishments, witchcraft, gipsies, pirates, stage-players, pilgrimages, 
prices of labour and provisions, the clothing trade of the West of England, &c. , 
&c, compiled chiefly from original materials, as the archives of Lyme-Regis 
and Weymouth, family papers, church registers, &c. Dedicated to Lord 
Macaulay. 

ROBIN HOOD.— The Great Hero of the Ancient Minstrelsy of 
England, " Robin Hood," his Period, real Character, &c, inves- 
tigated, and perhaps ascertained. By the Rev. Joseph Hunter. 
Post 8vo. 2s 6d. 

ROBINSON (J. B., of Derby)— Derbyshire Gatherings; a Fund oi 
Delight for the Antiquary, the Historian, the Topographer, and 
Biographer, and General Reader. A handsome 4to } with engrav- 
ings, extra cloth, gilt edges. £1. 5s 

ROMAN COINS. — Records of Roman History, from Cngeus Pom- 
peius to Tiberius Constantinus, as exhibited on the Roman 
Coins, Collected by Francis Hobler, formerly Secretary to the 
Numismatic Society of London. 2 vols, royal 4to, frontispiece 
and numerous engravings, in cloth. £1. Is {original price £2. 2s, 
only 250 printed). 
"A work calculated not only to interest the professed numismatist, but also 

to instruct the classical student and the historian. The unpublished Coins are 

rather numerous, especially when we consider how many works have been 

printed on the Roman series, and how much it has been studied 

The value of the work is much enhanced by the illustrations, executed by Mr. 

Fairholt, with the peculiar spirit and fidelity which indicate his experienced 

hand." — C. Roach Smith's Collectanea Antiqua. 

SACRED MUSIC— By the Rev. W. Sloane Evans, M.A. Royal 8vo, 
third edition, sewed. Is 6d {original price, 6s) 
Consisting of Psalm Tunes, Sanctusses, Kyrie-Eleisons, &c, <fec, and fifty- 
four Single and Double Chants (Major, Changeable, and MinorJ. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 39 

SALVERTE'S (Eusebius) History of the Names of Men, Nations, 
and Places, in their Connection with the Progress of Civiliza- 
tion. Translated by the Rev. L. H. Mordaque, M.A., Oxon. 

2 vols, 8vo, cloth. £1. 4s 

" Notre nom propre c'est nous-memes." 
" Nomina si iiescis periit cognitio rerum." 

"Full of learning, well written, and well translated." — Daily News. 
"These two volumes are filled with a minute and philosophical enquiry into 
the origin of names of all sorts among all nations, and show profound scholar- 
ship and patient skill in wide and elaborate research. Much of the work is, 
necessarily, too profound for general readers— particularly the appendices to 
the second volume— but the larger part of the enquiry is so curious and interest- 
ing that any ordinary reader will fully appreciate and profit by the researches." — 
Birmingham Journal. 

SANDYS' (W., F.SA.)— Christmastide, its History, Festivities, and 
Carols (ivith their music). In a handsome vol. 8vo, illustrated 
with 20 engravings after the designs of F. Stephanoff, extra cloth, 
gilt edges. 5s (original price 14s) 

" Its title vouches that Chrismastide is germane to the time. Mr. Sandys has 
brought together, in an octavo of some 300 pages, a great deal of often interest- 
mg information beyond the stale gossip about "Christmas in the olden time," 
«nd the threadbare make-believes of jollity and geniality which furnish forth 
nost books on the subject. His carols, too, which include some in old French 
and Provencal, are selected from numerous sources, and comprise many of the 
less known and more worth knowing. His materials are presented with good 
feeling and mastery of his theme. On the whole the volume deserves, and 
should anticipate, a welcome." — Spectator. 

SANDYS (W.) and S. A. FORSTER.— History of the Violin and 
other Instruments played on with a Bow, from the Earliest 
Times to the Present, also an Account of the Principal Makers, 
English and Foreign. Thick 8vo, pp. 408, with many engravinys, 
cloth. 14s 

SANDY'S (Charles, of Canterbury) Consuetudes Kancise. A History 
of Gavelkind, and other remarkable Customs, in the County of 
Kent. 8vo, illustrated with facsimiles, a very handsome volume, 
cloth. 15s. 

SANDYS (Charles) Critical Dissertation on Prof essor Willis's "Archi- 
tectural History of Canterbury Cathedral." 8vo. 2s 6d 
" Written in no quarrelsome or captious spirit; the highest compliment is 
paid to Professor Willis where it is due. But the author has made out a clear 
case, in some very important instances, of inaccuracies that have led the 
learned Professor into the construction of serious errors thoughout. It may 
be considered as an indispensable companion to his volume, containing a great 
deal of extra information of a very curious kind." — Art-Union. 

SAULL (W. D.) On the Connection between Astronomical and 
Geological Phenomena, addressed to the Geologists of Europe 
and America. 8vo, diagrams, sewed. 2s 

SCRASE FAMILY.— Genealogical Memoir of the Family of Scrase, 
of Sussex. By M. A. Lower. 8vo. Is 6d 



40 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

SHAKESPERIANA. 

A LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE, including many particulars rv* 
specting the Poet and his Family, never before published, By 
J. 0. Halliwell, F.R.S., etc. 8vo, illustrated with 75 engravings 
on wood, most of which are of new objects from drawings by 
Fairholt, cloth. 15s. 1848 

This work contains upwards of forty documents respecting Shakespeare and 
his family, never before published, besides numerous others, indirectly illustrat- 
ing the Poet's biography. All the anecdotes and traditions concerning Shake- 
speare are here, for the first time, collected, and much new light is thrown on 
his personal history, by papers exhibiting him as selling Malt, Stone, &o. Of 
the seventy-six engravings which illustrate the volume, more than fifty hav* 
never before been engraved. 

It is the only life of Shakespeare to be bought separately from his works. 

NEW ILLUSTRATIONS of the Life, Studies, and Writings of 

Shakespeare. By the Rev. Joseph Hunter. 2 vols, 8vo, cloth. 

7s 6d (original price £1. Is). 1845 

Supplementary to all editions of the works of the Poet. 

Part 2, price 8s., and Parts 3, 4, and 5 together, price 3s., may be had to 

complete copies. 

SHAKESPEARE'S Versification, and its Apparent Irregularities 

, Explained by Examples from Early and Late English Writers. 

By W. Sidney Walker, Edited by Wm. Nansom Lettsom. 

Foolscap 8vo, cloth. 6s. 1854 

" The reader of Shakespeare would do well to make himself acquinted with 

this excellent little book previous to entering upon the study of the poet. "— 

Mr. Singer, in the Preface to his New Edition of Shakespeare. 

A CRITICAL Examination of the Text of Shakespeare ; together 
with Notes on his Plays and Poems, by the late W. Sidney 
Walker. Edited by W. Nanson Lettsom. 3 vols, foolscap 8vo, 
cloth. 18s. 1860 

"Very often we find ourselves differing from Mr. Walker on readings and 
interpretations, but we seldom differ from him without respect for his scholar- 
ship and care. His are not the wild guesses at truth which neither gods nor 
men have stomach to endure, but the suggestions of a trained intelligence and 
a chastened taste. Future editors and commentators will be bound to consult 
these volumes, and consider their suggestions." — Athenaeum. 

"A valuable addition to our Philological Literature, the most valuable part 
being the remarks on contemporary literature, the mass of learning by 
which the exact meaning and condition of a word is sought to be established." 
— Literary Gazette. 

"Mr. Walker's Works undoubtedly form altogether the most valuable body of 
verbal criticism that has yet appeared from an individual."— Mr. Dycc's Preface 
to Vol. 1. of his Shakespeare, 1864. 

NARES' (Archd.) Glossary, or Collection of Words, Phrases, Customs^ 
Proverbs, etc., illustrating the Works of English Authors, par- 
ticularly Shakespeare and his Contemporaries. A new edition, 
with Considerable Additions both of Words and Examples. By 
James 0. Halliwell, F.R.S., and Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A. 
2 thick vols, 8vo, cloth. £1. Is. 1867 

The Glossary of Archdeacon Nares is by far the best and most useful Work we 
possess for explaining and illustrating the obsolete language, and the customs 
and manners of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, and it is quite isde- 
spensable for the readers of the literature of the Elizabethan period. The 
additional words and examples are distinguished from those of the original 
text by a t prefixed to each. The work contains between five and six thousand 
additional examples, the result of original research, not merely supplement*ry 
to Nares, but to all other compilation* of the kind. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 41 

A LETTER to Dr. Farmer (in reply to Ritson), relative to his 
Edition of Shakespeare, published in 1790. By Edmund 
M alone. 8vo, sewed. Is 1792 

COMPARATIVE Review of the Opinions of James Boaden in 1795 
and in 1796, relative to the Shakespeare MSS. 8vo, 2s 1796 

ESSAY on the Genius of Shakespeare, with Critical Remarks on 
the Characters of Romeo, Hamlet, Juliet, and Ophelia, by H. 
M. Graves. Post 8vo, cloth. 2s 6d (original price 5s 6d) 1826 

HISTORICAL Account of the Monumental Bust of Shakespeare, 
in the Chancel of Stratford-upon-Avon Church, by Abr.Wivell. 
8vo, 2 plates. Is 6d 1827 

VORTIGERN, an Historical Play, represented at Drury Lane, April 

2, 1796, as a supposed newly discovered Drama of Shakespeare, 

by William Henry Ireland. New Edition, with an original 

Preface. 8vo, facsimile. Is 6d (original price 3s 6d) 1832 

The Preface is both interesting and curious, from the additional information 

it gives respecting the Shakespeare Forgeries, containing also the substance of 

the author's " Confessions." 

SHAKESPEARE'S Will, copied from the Original in the Prerogative 
Court, preserving the Interlineations and Facsimiles of the three 
Autographs of the Poet, with a few Preliminary Observations, 
by J. 0. Halliwell. 4to. Is 1838 

TRADITIONARY Anecdotes of Shakespeare, collected in Warwick- 
shire in 1693. 8vo, sewed. Is 1838 

OBSERVATIONS on an Autograph of Shakespeare, and the Ortho- 
graphy of his Name, by Sir Fred. Madden. 8vo, sewed. Is 1838 

SHAKESPEARE'S Autobiographical Poems, being his Sonnets 
clearly developed, with his Character, drawn chiefly from his 
Works, by C. A. Brown. Post 8vo, cloth. 4s 6d ' 1838 

SHAKESPERIANA, a Catalogue of the Early Editions of Shakes- 
peare's Plays, and of the Commentaries and other Publications 
illustrative of his works. By J. 0. Halliwell. 8vo, cloth. 3a 

1841 
" Indispensable to everybody who wishes to carry on any inquiries connected 
with Shakespeare, or who may have a fancy for Shakesperian Bibliography."— 
Spectator. 

REASONS for a New Edition of Shakespeare's Works, by J. Payne 
Collier. 8vo. Is 1842 

ACCOUNT of the only known Manuscript of Shakespeare's Plays, 
comprising some important variations and corrections in the 
" Merry Wives of Windsor," obtained from a Playhouse Copy 
of that Play recently discovered. By J. 0. Halliwell. 8vo. 
Is 1843 

u WHO was ' Jack Wilson,' the Singer of Shakespeare's Stage ?" An 
Attempt to prove the identity of this person with John Wilson, 
Doctor of Music in the University of Oxford, a.D. 1644. By E. 
F. Rimbault, LL.D. 8vo. la 1846 



42 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

CKITICISM applied to Shakespeare. By C. Badham. Post 8vo. Is 

1846 

CBOKER (Crofton). — Kemarks on an Article inserted in the Papers 
of the Shakespeare Society. Small 8vo, sewed, Is. 1849 

THE Tempest as a Lyrical Drama. By Morris Barnett. 8vo. Is 

1850 

A FEW Remarks on the Emendation, " Who Smothers her with 
Painting," in the Play of Cymbeline, discovered by Mr. Collier, 
in a Corrected Copy of the Second Edition of Shakespeare, by 
J. 0. Halliwell, &c. 8vo. Is 1852 

CURIOSITIES of Modern Shakespeare Criticism. By J. O. Halli- 
well. 8vo, with the first facsimile of the Dulwich Letter, sewed. 
Is 1853 

A FEW Notes on Shakespeare, with Occasional Remarks on the 

Emendations of the Manuscript-Corrector in Mr. Collier's copy 

of the folio, 1632, by the Rev. Alexander Dyce. 8vo, cloth. 

5s 1853 

" Mr. Dyce's Notes are peculiarly delightful, from the stores of illustration 

with which bis extensive reading, not only among our writers, but among those 

of other countries, especially of the Italian poets, has enabled him to enrich 

them. All that he has recorded is valuable. We read this little volume with 

pleasure, and closed it with regret." — Literary Gazette. 

A FEW Words in Reply to the Rev. A. Dyce's " Few Notes on 
Shakespeare," by the Rev. Josepe Hunter. 8vo. Is 1853 

THE Grimaldi Shakespeare. — Notes and Emendations on the Plays 
of Shakespeare, from a recently discovered annotated copy by 
the late Joe Grimaldi, Esq., Comedian. 8vo, woodcuts. Is 

1853 
A humourous squib on Collier's Shakespeare Emendations. 

THE Moor of Venice, Cinthio's Tale, and Shakespeare's Tragedy. 
By John Edward Taylor. Post 8vo. Is 1855 

CURSORY Notes on Various Passages in the Text of Beaumont and 
Fletcher, as edited by the Rev. Alexander Dyce, and on hia 
" Few Notes on Shakespeare," by the Rev. John Mitford. 
8vo, sewed. 2s 6d 1856 

BACON and Shakespeare, an Inquiry touching Players, Playhouses, 
and Play-writers, in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth ; to which is ap- 
pended an Abstract of a Manuscript Autobiography of Tobie 
Matthews, by W. H. Smith. Foolscap 8 vo, cloc h. 2s 6d 1857 
"Lord Palinerston was tolerably well up in the chief Latin and English 
Classics ; but he entertained one of the most extraordinary paradoxes touching 
the greatest of them that was ever broached by a man of his intellectual calibre. 
He maintained that the Plays of Shakespeare were really written by Bacon, 
who passed them off under the name of an actor, for fear of compromising his 
professional prospects and philosophic gravity. Only last year, when this sub- 
ject was discussed at Broadlands, Lord Palmerston suddenly left the room, and 
speedily returned with a small volume of dramatic criticisms (Mr. Smith's book) 
in which the same theory was supported by supposed analogies of thought and 
expression. 'There,' said he, 'read that, and you Will come over to my 
opinion."'— Fruser's M aa Nov. 1865. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 43 

HAMLET. — An Attempt to Ascertain whether the Queen were an 

Accessory before the Fact, in the Murder of her First Husband. 

8vo, sewed. 2s 1856 

" This pamphlet well deserves the perusal of every student of Hamlet."— 

Notes and Queries. 

SHAKESPEARE'S Story-Teller, Introductory Leaves, or Outline 
Sketches, with Choice Extracts in the "Words of the Poet him- 
self, with an Analysis of the Characters, by George Stephens, 
Professor of the English Language and Literature in the Univer- 
sity of Copenhagen. 8vo, Nos. 1 to 6. 6d each. 1856 

PERICLES, Prince of Tyre, a Novel, by Geo. Wilkins, printed in 
1608, and founded upon Shakespeare's Play, edited by Pro- 
fessor Mommsen, with Preface and Account of some original 
Shakespeare editions extant in Germany and Switzerland, and 
Introduction by J. P. Collier. 8vo, sewed. 5s 1857 

LLOYD (W. Watkiss) Essays on the Life and Plays of Shakespeare, 
contributed to the Edition by S. W. Singer, 1856. Thick post 
8vo, half calf gilt, marbled edges. 9s 1858 

Only 50 copies privately printed. 

THE Sonnets of Shakespeare, rearranged and divided into Four 
Parts, with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes. Post 8vo, 
cloth. 3s 6d 1859 

STRICTURES on Mr. Collier's New Edition of Shakespeare, pub- 
lished in 1858, by the Rev. Alexander Dyce. 8vo, cloth. 5a 
(original price 7s 6d) 1859 

THE Shakespeare Fabrications, or the MS. Notes of the Perkins 
folio, shown to be of recent origin; with Appendix on the 
Authorship of the Ireland Forgeries, by C Mansfield Inglebt, 
LL.D. Foolscap 8vo, with a facsimile, shewing the pseudo old 
writing and the pencilled words, cloth. 3s 1859 

STRICTURES on Mr. Hamilton's Inquiry into the Genuineness of 
the MS. Corrections in J. Payne Collier's Annotated Shakespeare. 
Folio, 1632. By Scrutator. 8vo, sewed. Is 1860 

SHAKESPEARE and the Bible, shewing how much the great Dra- 
matist was indebted to Holy Writ for his Profound Knowledge 
of Human Nature. By the Rev. T. R. Eaton. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 
2s 6d 1860 

THE Footsteps of Shakespeare, or a Ramble with the Early Drama- 
tists, containing New and Interesting Information respecting 
Shakespeare, Lyly, Marlowe, Green, and others. Post 8vo, cloth. 
5s 6d 1861 

SHAKESPEARE, his Friends and Contemporaries. By G. M. 
Tweddell. Second Edition, 8vo, Parts I to III. ■ 6d each. 

1861—3 

THE Shakespeare Cyclopoedia, or a Classified and Elucidated Sum- 
mary of Shakespeare's Knowledge of the Works and Phenomena 
of Nature. By J. H. Fennell, 8vo, Part I., sewed. Is 1862 



44 



BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 



A BRIEF Hand Book of the Records belonging to the Borough of 
Stratford-on-Avon ; with Notes of a few of the Shakespearian 
Documents. Square post 8vo, cloth {only 50 printed). 7s 6d 

1862 

SHAKESPEARE No Deerstealer ; or, a Short Account of Fulbroke 
Park, near Stratford-on-Avon. By C. Holte Bracebride. 8vo, 
privately printed. Is 6d 1862 

WHELER's Historical Account of the Birthplace of Shakespeare, 
reprinted from the edition of 1824, with a few prefatory remarks 
by J. 0. Halliwell. 8vo, front. Is 6d 1863 

BRIEF Hand List of the Collections respecting the Life and Works 
of Shakespeare, and the History and Antiquities of Stratford- 
upon-Avon, formed by the late Robert Bell Wheler, and pre- 
sented by his sister to that Town, to be preserved for ever in 
the Shakespeare Library and Museum. Small square 8vo. 
7s 6d Chiswich Press, 1863 

Only 100 copies printed at the expense of Mr. Halliwell, not for sale. 

SHAKESPEARE'S Coriolanus. Edited, with Notes and Preface, 
by F. A. Leo, with a quarto facsimile of the Tragedy of Corio- 
lanus, from the folio of 1623, photolithographed by A. Bur- 
CHARD, and with Extracts from North's Plutarch. 4to, elegantly 
printed, extra cloth. 15s 1864 

SHAKSPERE and Jonson. — Dramatic versus Wit-Combats —Auxi- 
liary Forces — Beaumont and Fletcher, Marston, Decker, Chap- 
man, and Webster. Post 8vo. 4s. 1864 

REPRINTS of Scarce Pieces of Shakespearian Criticism, No. 1, " Re- 
marks on Hamlet, 1736." Fcap. 8vo. Is 6d 1864 

THREE Notelets on Shakespeare— I. Shakespeare in Germany ; II. 

The Folk-lore of Shakespeare ; III. Was Shakespeare a Soldier ? 

By William J. Thoms, F.S.A. Post 8vo, cloth. " 4s 6d 1865 
" On this subject of Shakespeare in Germany, Mr. W. J. Thoms nas reprinted 
a paper read some years ago before the Society of Antiquaries, together with 
two other ' Notelets ' on the Poet — ' The Folk Lore of Shakespeare,' from the 
Athenaeum, and ' Was Shakespeare a Soldier ?' from Notes and Queries. Not 
the least of Mr. Thoms's many services to English literature is the invention of 
that admirable word folk-lore, which appeared for the first time in these columns 
only a few years ago, and has already become a domestic term in every corner 
of the world. His illustration of Shakespeare's knowledge of this little world 
of fairy dreams and legends is a perfect bit of criticism. He answers the query 
as to Shakespeare's having seen martial service in the affirmative ; and therein 
we think his argument sound, his conclusion right. These ' Notelets ' were 
very well worthy of being collected into a book." — Athenceum. 

SHAKESPEARE'S Editors and Commentators. By the Rev. W. R. 

Aerowsmith, Incumbent of Old St. Pancras. 8vo, sewed. Is 6d 

1865 
NEW Readings in Shakspere, or Proposed Emendations of the Text. 

By Robert Cart wright, M.D. 8vo, sewed. 2s 1866 

THE SHAKESPEARE EXPOSITOR : being Notes, and Emenda- 
tions on his Works. By Thomas Kbightley. Thick fcap. 8vo, 
cloth, 7s 6d 1867 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITE, 36, SO HO SQUARE. 45 

SHAKESPEARE'S Jest Book— A Hundred Mery Talys, from the 
only perfect copy known. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, 
by Dr. Herman Oesterlet. Fcap. 8vo, nicely printed by Whit- 
tingham, half morocco. 4s 6d 
The only perfect copy known of the " Hundred Mery Talys " was lately dis- 
covered in the Royal Library at Gottingem This is a verbatim reprint, supply- 
ing all the chasms and lost tales in former editions, with copious Notes by the 
editor, pointing out the origin of the various tales, and authors who have used 
them. 



SHARPE's (Samuel, author of the History of Ancient Egypt, etc.) — 
The Egyptian Antiquities in the British Museum described. 
Post 8vo, with many woodcuts, cloth, os. 1S62 

"We strongly counsel every one who desires to obtain a true knowledge of 
the Egyptian Department of the Museum to lose no time in obtaining this cheap 
and excellent volume." — Daily 2s'eics. 

" Mr. Sharpe here presents the student of Egyptian antiquity and art with a 
very useful book. .... To the accomplished student this book will be 
useful as a reminder of many things already known to him ; to the tyro it may 
serve as a guide and aide-memoire : to the mere visitor to the Galleries in the 
British Museum, this will be a handy guide book, in which an immediate 
answer may be sought and found for the oft-repeated questions before these 
wondrous remains— of what are their natures? what their meanings? what 
their purposes?"— Athenosum. 

SHARPE (Samuel) Egyptian Mythology and Egyptian Christianity, 
with their Influence on the Opinions of Modern Christendom. 
Post 8vo, with 100 engravings, cloth. 3s. 

SHARPE (Samuel) History of Egypt, from the Earliest Times till the 
Conquest by the Arabs, a.d. 620. 2 vols, 8vo, third edition 
(excepting the engravings, the same as the fourth), elegantly printed, 
cloth. 4s 6d (original price 16s) 

SHARPE (Samuel) Critical Notes on the Authorized English Version 
of the New Testament, being a Companion to tbe Author's 
"New Testament, translated from Griesbach's Text." Fcap. 
8vo, second edition, cloth. 2s 6d 

SHEPHERD (Charles).— Historical Account of the Island of Saint 
Vincent, in the West Indies, with large Appendix on Population, 
Meteorology, Produce of Estates, Revenue, Carib Grants, etc. 
8vo, plates, cloth. 3s (original price 12s) 

SINDING (Professor, of Copenhagen) History of Scandinavia, from 
the early times of the Northmen, the Seakings, and Vikings, to 
the present day. First English Edition, thoroughly revised and 
augmented. Svo, pp. 490, large map and portrait of Q. Marga- 
ret, cloth. 6s 

SKELTON (John, Poet Laureate to Henry VIII) Poetical Works, 

the Bowge of Court, Colin Clout, Why come ye not to Court ? 

(his celebrated Satire on Wolsey), Phillip Sparrow, Elinour 

Rumming, etc., with Notes and Life. By the Rev. A. Dyce. 2 

vols, 8vo, cloth. 16s (original price £1." 12s) 

" The power, the strangeness, the volubility of his language, the audacity of 

his satire, and the perfect originality of his manner, made Skelton one of the 

most extraordinary writers of any age or country. "—Southey. 



46 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

SIMS (Richard, of the Dept. of MSS. in the British Museum) A Ma- 
nual for the Genealogist, Topographer, Antiquary, and Legal 
Professor, consisting of Descriptions of Public Records, Paro- 
chial and other Registers, Wills, County and Family Histories, 
Heraldic Collections in Public Libraries, &c. 8vo, second edi- 
tion, pp. 540, cloth. 15s 
This work will be found indispensable by those engaged in the study of 
Family History and Heraldry, and by the compiler of County and Local 
History, the Antiquary and the Lawyer. In it the Public and other Records, 
most likely to afford information to genealogical inquirers, are fully described, 
and their places of present deposit indicated. Such Records are — The Domes- 
day Books — Monastic Records — Cartas Antiquse — Liber Niger — Liber Rubeus 
— Testa de Nevil — Placita in various Courts — Charter Rolls — Close Rolls — 
Coronation Rolls — Coroners' Rolls — Escheat Rolls — Fine Rolls — French, 
Gascon, and Norman Rolls — Hundred Rolls — Liberate Rolls — Memoranda Rolls 
— Oblata and other Rolls — Inquisitions Post Mortem — Inquisitions ad quod 
Damnum — Fines and Recoveries — Sign Manuals and Signet Bills — Privy Seals 
— Forfeitures, Pardons, and Attainders — Parliamentary Records — County 
Palatine Records— -Scotch, Irish, and Welsh Records — also Wills — Parochial 
and other Registers— Registers of Universities and Public Schools— Heraldic 
Collections — Records of Clergymen, Lawyers, Surgeons, Soldiers, Sailors, &c, &c. 
The whole accompanied by valuable Lists of Printed Works and Manuscripts 
in various Libraries, namely : — at the British Museum— The Bodleian, Ashmo- 
lean, and other Libraries at Oxford — The Public Library, and that of Caius 
College, Cambridge — The Colleges of Arms in London and Dublin — The Libraries 
of Lincoln's Inn, and of the Middle and Inner Temple — at Chethain College, 
Manchester; and. in other repositories too numerous to mention. 

The more important of these Lists are those of Monastic Cartularies — 
Extracts from Plea and other Rolls — Escheats — Inquisitions, &c. — Tenants in 
Capite — Recusants — Subsidies— Crown Lands— Wills — Parochial and other 
Registers — Heralds' Visitations— Royal and Noble Genealogies — Peerages, 
Baronetages, Knightages — Pedigrees of Gentry — County and Family Histories 
— Monumental Inscriptions — Coats of Arms — American Genealogies — Lists oi 
Gentry — Members of Parliament — Freeholds — Officers of State— Justices of 
Peace— Mayors, Sheriffs, &c— Collegians, Church Dignitaries — Lawyers — The 
Medical Profession — Soldiers — Sailors, etc. 

To these is added an " Appendix," containing an Account of the Public Re- 
cord Offices and Libraries mentioned in the work, the mode of obtaining admis- 
sion, hours of attendance, fees for searching, copying, &c. Table of the Regnal 
Years of English Sovereigns ; Tables of Dates used in Ancient Records, &c. 

SIMS (Richard) Handbook to the Library of the British Museum, 
containing a brief History of its Formation, and of the various 
Collections of which it is composed, Descriptions of the Cata- 
logues in present use, Classed Lists of the Manuscripts, etc., and 
a variety of Information indispensable for Literary Men, with 
some Account of the principal Public Libraries in London. Sm. 
8vo (pp. 438) with map and plan, cloth. 2s 6d 
It will be found a very useful work to every literary person or public institu- 
tion in all parts of the world. 

"A little Handbook of the Library has been published, which I think will be 

most useful to the public." — Lord Seymour's Reply in the H. of Commons, July, \$>h±. 

"I am much pleased with your book, and find in it abundance of information 

which I wanted" — Letter from Albert Way, Esq., F.S.A., Editor of the 

" Promptorum Parvulorum," &c. 

" I take this opportunity of telling you how much I like your nice little ' Hand- 
book to the Library of the British Museum,' which I sincerely hope may have 
the success which it deserves." — Letter from Thos. Wright, Esq., F.S.A., Author 
of the ' Biographia Britannica Literaria,' de. 
"Mr. Si'ms's 'Handbook to the Library of the British Museum' is a very 

comprehensive and instructive volume I venture to predict for it 

a wide circulation."— Mr. Bolton Corney, in ''Notes and Quer^et/," No. 213. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 47 

SLOANE— EVANS (W. S.) Grammar of British Heraldry, cons ting 
of Blazon and Marshalling with an Introduction on the Rise and 
Progress of Symbols and Ensigns. 8vo, second edition, many 
plates, cloth. 5s (original price 13s) 
SMITH'S (Henry Ecroyd) Reliquiae Isurianae, the Remains of the 
Roman Isurium, now Aldborough, near Boroughbridge, York, 
shire, illustrated and described. Royal 4to, with 37 plates, cloth. 
£1. 5s 
The most highly illustrated work ever published on a Roman Station in 
England. 

SMITH'S (Charles Roach, F.S.A.) History and Antiquities of Rich- 
borough, and Lymme, in Kent, Small 4to, with many engrav- 
ings on wood and copper, by F. W. Fairholt, clolh. £1. Is 
"No antiquarian volume could display a trio of names more zealous, 
successful, and intelligent, on the subject of Romano-British remains, than tha 
three here represented — Roach Smith, the ardent explorer ; Fairholt, the excel- 
lent illustrator, and Rolfe, the indefatigable collector. — Literary Gazette. 

SMITH (W.,jun., of Morley) Rambles about Moiiey (West Riding 
of Yorkshire) with Descriptive and Historic Sketches, also an 
Account of the Rise and Progress of the Woollen Manufacture 
in this Place. Royal 12mo, map and numerous engravings, cloth. 
5s 

SMITH'S (Toulmin) Memorials of Old Birmingham, Men and Names, 
Founders, Freeholders, and Indwellers, from the 13th to the 
16th Century, with particulars as to the earliest Church of the 
Reformation built and endowed in England, from original and 
unpublished documents. Royal 8vo, plates, cloth. 4s 6d 

SMITH (John Russell) Bibliothecana Cantiana. — A Bibliographical 
Account of what has been published on the History, Topogra- 
phy, Antiquities, Customs, and Family Genealogy of the County 
of Kent, with Biographical Notes. 8vo (pp. 370) with two plates 
of facsimiles of autographs of 33 eminent Kentish Writers. 5s 
(original price 14s) 

SMITH (J. R.) A Bibliographical Catalogue of English Writers on 
Angling and Ichthyology. Post 8vo. Is 6d 

SMITH (J. R.) A Bibliographical List of all the Works which have 
been published towards illustrating the Provincial Dialects of 
England. Post 8vo. Is 
"Very serviceable to such as prosecute the study of our provincial dialects, 

or are collecting works on that curious subject. . . . We very cordially 

recommend it to notice." — Metropolitan. 

SPEDDING (James, Editor of Lord Bacon) Publishers and 
Authors. Post 8vo, cloth. 2s 
Mr. Spedding wishes to expose the present mystery (?) of publishing, he 
thinks from a number of cases that we publishers do not act on the square. 
However, there are two sides to the question ; but his book will be useful to 
the uninitiated. 

STEPHENS' (Professor George, of Copenhagen) the Old Northern 
Runic Monuments of Scandinavia and England, now first Col- 
lected and Deciphered. Folio, Part 1, pp. 362, with about 150 
engravings. £2. 10s 
The Author promises the second and concluding Part next year. 



48 BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 

STEPHENS' (Professor) The Ruthwell Cross (near Annan, Dumfries- 
shire) with its Runic Verses, by Csedmon, and Csedmon's Cross- 
Lay, " The Holy Rood, a Dream," from a Transcript of the 10th 
Century, with Translations, Notes, &c. Folio, with two plates, 
sewed. 10s 
This will be included in the forthcoming second part of Professor Stephens's 

work, this portion is published separately to meet the wishes of a number of 

Archaeologists. 

STIRRY'S (Thos.) A Rot amongst the Bishops, or a Terible Tempest 
in the Sea of Canterbury, set forth in livery emblems, to please 
the Judicious Reader. (A. Satire on Abp. Laud), four very curi- 
ous woodcut emblems, cloth. 3s 

A facsimile of the very rare original edition, which sold at Bindley's sale for £13. 

SURREY HILLS.— A Guide to the Caterham Railway and its Vici- 
nity. Post 8vo, 2nd and revised edition, with a map, sewed. 6d 
Thousands of tourists and pleasure-seekers go hundreds of miles for beautiful 
scenery without perhaps finding a country of more varied and interesting 
character than that to be met with in the Caterham Valley, and within twenty 
miles of the metropolis. 

SURTEES (Rev. Scott. F., of Sprotburgh, Yorkshire) Waifs and 
Strays of North Humber History. Post 8vo, 3 plates, cloth. 
3s 6d 
SURTEES (Rev. Scott F.) Julius Caesar, Did he Cross the Channel 
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" In giving an answer in the negative to the above question, we ask for a fair 
and dispassionate hearing, and in order to avoid circumlocution pass at once 
our Rubicon, and propound as capable of all proof the following historical 
heresy, viz., that Caesar never set foot at Boulogne or Calais, never crossed the 
Channel, or set eyes on Deal or Dover, but that he sailed from the mouths of the 
Rhine or Scheldt, and landed in Norfolk on both his expeditions. " — Author. 

TESTAMENT (The New) translated from Griesbach's Text, by 
Samuel Sharpe, Author of the History of Egypt, &c, 5th 
edition. 12mo, pp. 412, cloth. Is 6d 

The aim of the translator has been to give the meaning and idiom of the 
Greek as far as possible in English words. The book is printed in paragraphs 
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volume sufficiently test its value. 

"We cordially recommend this edition of the New Testament to our readers 
and contributors. — British Controversialist. 

Upon the whole, we must admit that his is the most correct English Version 
In existence, either of the whole or of any portion of the New Testament. — The 
Ecclesiastic, and repeated by the English Churchman. 

TESTAMENT (Old).— The Hebrew Scriptures, translated by Samuel 
Sharpe, being a revision of the authorized English Old Testa- 
ment. 3 vols, fcap. 8vo, cloth, red edges. 7s 6d 
"In the following Revision of the Authorized Version of the Old Testament, 
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those peculiarities which others have been content to point out in Notes and 
Commentaries. He has translated from Van der Hooght's edition of the Hebrew 
Bible, printed in Amsterdam in 1705 ; except when, in a few cases, he has 
followed some of the various readings so industriously collected by Dr. 
Kennicott."— Prelaw. A. Prospectus may be had. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 49 

TANSWELL'S (John, of the Inner Temple) the History and Anti- 
quities of Lambeth. 8vo, with numerous illustrations, cloth. 
4s 6d (original price 7s 6d) 

THOMPSON (James) Handbook of Leicester. 12mo, Second Edit., 
woodcuts, bds. 2s 

THOMPSON (Ebenezer) A Vindication of the Hymn "Te Deum 
Laudamus," from the Corruptions of a Thousand Years, with 
Ancient Versions in Anglo Saxon, High German, Norman 
French, &c. , and an English Paraphrase of the XVth Century, 
now first printed. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. 3s 
A book well worth the notice of the Ecclesiastical Antiquary and tbt 

Philologist 

THOMPSON" (Ebenezer) on the Archaic Mode of expressing Num- 
bers in English, Anglo-Saxon, Friesic, etc.- 8vo (an ingenious 
and learned pamphlet, interesting to the Philologist). Is 

TIERNEY'S (Rev. Canon) History and Antiquities of the Castle and 
Town of Arundel, including the Biography of its Earls. 2 vols, 
royal 8vo, fine plates, cloth, 14s (original price, £2. 10s.) 

TITIAN".— Notices of the Life and Works of Titian the Painter. 
By Sir Abraham Hume. Royal 8vo, portrait, cloth. 6s. 

TONSTALL (Cuthbert, Bishop of Durham) Sermon preached on 
Palm Sunday, 1539, before Henry VIII. ; reprinted verbatim, 
from the rare edition by Berthelet, in 1539. 12mo. Is 6d. 
An exceedingly interesting Sermon, at the commencement of the Reformation ; 

Strype in his "Memorials," has made large extracts from it. 

TORRENT of PORTUGAL ; an English Metrical Romance. Now 
first published, from an unique MS. of the XVth Century, 
preserved in the Chetham Library at Manchester. Edited by 
J. 0. Halliwell, &c. Post 8vo, cloth, uniform with Ritson, 
Weber, and Ellis's publications, cloth. 5s. 
"This is a valuable and interesting addition to our list of early English 

metrical romances, and an indispensable companion to the collections of Ritson, 

Weber, and Ellis,"— Literary Gazette. 

TOPOGRAPHER (The) and Genealogist. Edited by J. G. Nichols 
3 vols, 8vo, cloth. £1. 5s (pub £3. 3s) 

This extremely valuable work forms a sequel to the " Collectanea Topographica 

Genealogica," and the intrinsic value and originality of the materials comprised 

therein, will entitle it not only to preservation, but to frequent reference. 

TOWNEND's (William) The Descendants of the Stuarts. An Un- 

chronicled Page in England's History. 8vo, portraits and 

folding pedigrees, second edition, with Additions, half morocco 

5s (original price 10s) 

This volume contains a most minute, precise, and valuable history of the 
Descendants of the Stuart Family. Neither of our Historians from Hume to 
Macaulay give even the more prominent facts in connection with many branches 
of the House of Stuart. 

" This is a really interesting contribution to what we may term the private 

records of history What Mr. Townend has done is full of curious 

information. His Genealogical tables shew all the ramifications which spring 
out of the matrimonial alliances of the descendants of the Stuarts, and very 

curious possibilities some of these indicate We promise our readers 

that this volume contains much that is worthy of perusal and recollection, as 
well as much that is suggestive. "—Globe, 



50 BOOKS PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY 

TOXOPHILUS ; the School of Shooting (the first English Treatise 
on Archery. By Roger Ascham, reprinted from the Rev. Dr. 
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TROLLOPS (Rev. W.) History of the Royal Foundation of Christ's 
Hospital, Plan of Education, Internal Economy of the Institu- 
tion, and Memoirs of Eminent Blues. 4to, plates, cloth. 8s 6d 
(original price £3. 3s) 

TUCKETT (John) Pedigrees and Arms of Devonshire Families, as 
recorded in the Herald's Visitation of 1620, with Additions 
from the Harleian MSS. and the Printed Collections of West- 
cote and Pole. 4to, Parts I. to XII. Each 5s 

TURNER'S (Sir Gregory Page) Topographical Memorandums for 
the County of Oxford. 8vo, bds. 2s 

TWEDDELL (G. M.) The Bards and Authors of Cleveland and South 
Durham. By G. M. Tweddell. 8vo, Parts I. to VI. 6d each. 

TWO LEAVES of King Waldere and King Gudhere, a hitherto un- 
known Old English Epic of the 8th Century belonging to the 
Saga Cycle of King Theodoric and his Men. Now first pub- 
lished with a Modern English Reading, Notes, and Glossary by 
George Stephens, English Professor in the University of Co- 
penhagen. Royal 8vo, with four Photographic Facsimiles of the 
MS. of the 9th Century, recently discovered at Copenhagen. 15s — 
Without Facsimiles. 7s 6d 

VASEY (George) A Monograph of the Genus Bos. — The Natural 
History of Bulls, Bisons, and Buffaloes, exhibiting all the known 
Species (with, an Introduction containing an Account of Expe- 
riments on Rumination from the French of M. Flourens). 
8vo, with 72 engravings on wood by the A uthor, cloth. 6s (origi- 
nal price 10s 6d) 
Written in a scientific and popular manner, and printed and illustrated 

uniformly with the works of Bell, Yarrell, Forbes, Johnston, &c. Dedicated to 

the late Mr. Yarrell, who took great interest in the progress of the work. Mr. 

Vasey engraved many of the beautiful woodcuts in Mr. Yarrell's works. 

VASEY' S (George) Illustrations of Eating, displaying the Omni- 
vorous Character of Man, and exhibiting the Natives of various 
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VERNON'S (E. J., B.A., Oxon) Guide to the Anglo-Saxon Tongue, 
on the Basis of Professor Rask's Grammar ; to which are added 
Reading Lessons in Verse and Prose, with Notes, for the Use of 
Learners. 12mo, cloth. 5s 
" Mr. Vernon has, we think, acted wisely in taking Rask for his model : but 
let no one suppose from the title that the book is merely a compilation from 
the work of that philologist. The accidence is abridged from Rask, with 
constant revision, correction, and modification ; but the syntax, a most im- 
portant portion of the book, is original, and is compiled with great care and 
skill ; and the latter half of the volume consists of a well-chosen selection of 
extracts from Anglo-Saxon writers, in prose and in verse, for the practice of the 
student, who will find great assistance in reading them from the grammatical 
notes with which they are accompanied, and from the glossary which follows 
them. This volume, well studied, will enable anyone to read with ease the 
generality of Anglo-Saxon writers ; and its cheapness places it within the reach 
«f every class. It has our hearts' recommendaticm." — tn^-<tru Gazeti*. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SO HO SQUARE. 51 

VICARS' (John) England's Worthies, under whom all the Civil and 
Bloody Wanes, since Anno 1642 to Anno 1647, are related. 
Royal 12mo, reprinted in the old style {similar to Lady Willough- 
by's Diary), with copies of the 18 rare portraits after Hollar, etc., 
half morocco. 5s 
WACE (Master, the Anglo-Norman Poet) His Chronicle of the Nor- 
man Conquest, from the Roman de Rou. Translated into Eng- 
lish Prose, with Notes and Illustrations, by Edgar Taylok, 
F.S.A. 8vo, many engravings from the Bayeux Tapestry, Norman 
Architecture, Illuminations, etc., cloth. 15s (original price £1. 8s) 
Only 250 copies printed, and very few remain unsold; the remaining copies 
are now in J. R. Smith's hands, and are offered at the above low price in conse- 
quence of the death of Mr. Pickering ; hitherto no copies have been sold under 
the published price. 

WACKERBARTH (F. D.) Music and the Anglo-Saxons, being some 
Account of the Anglo-Saxon Orchestra, with Remarks on the 
Church Music of the 19th Century. 8vo, 2 plates, sewed. 4s 

WARNE (Charles, F.S.A.) The Celtic Tumuli of Dorset ; an Ac- 
count of Personal and other Researches in the Sepulchral 
Mounds of the Durotriges. Folio, plates and woodcuts, cloth. 
£1. 10s 

WAYLEN (James, of Devizes) History and Antiquities of the Town 
of Marlborough, and more generally of the entire Hundred of 
Selkley, in Wiltshire. Thick 8vo, icoodcuts, cloth, lis 
This volume describes a portion of "Wilts not included by Sir R. C. Hoare and 

other topographers. 

WEST (Mrs.) A Memoir of Mrs. John West, of Chettle, Dorset. 
By the Rev. John West, A.M. A new edition, with Brief Me- 
moir of the Writer. 12mo, cloth. 2s 6d 
The fourth edition of an interesting volume of Religious Biography. The 
Rev. John West was the first missionary to the Indians of Prince Rupert's 
Land, the first wooden church at Red River was partly built by his own hands. 

WESLEY — Narrative of a Remarkable Transaction in the Early 
Life of John Wesley. Now first printed from a MS. in the 
British Museum. Second Edition ; to which is added a Re- 
view of the Work by the late Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A. 8V0-, 
sewed. 2 s 
A very curious love affair between J. W. and his housekeeper ; it gives 

a curious insight into the early economy of the Methodists. It is entirely 

unknown to all Wesley's biographers. 

WILLIAMS (John, Archdeacon of Cardigan) Essays, Philological, 
Philosophical, Ethnological, and Archaeological, connected with 
the Prehistorical Records of the Civilised Nations of Ancient 
Europe, especially of that Race which first occupied Great 
Britain. Thick 8vo, with 1 plates, cloth. 16s 

WINDSOR. — Annals of Windsor, being a History of the Castle and 
Town, with some Account of Eton and Places Adjacent. By 
R. R. Tighe and J. E. Davis, Esqs. In 2 thick vols, roy. 8vo, 
illustrated v;ith many engravings, coloured and plain, extra cloth.. 
£1. os {original price £4. 4s) 
An early application is necessary, as but few copies remain on sale. 



52 



BOOKS PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY 



WILLMOTT (Robert Aris, some time Incumbent of Bear Wood, 

Berks) A Journal of Summer Time in the Country. Fourth 

Edition; to which is added an Introductory Memoir by his 

Sister. Foolscap 8vo, elegantly printed by Whittingham, extra 

cloth. 5s 

This ' Journal of Summer Time ' is a genial gossip of literary matters under 

the various days of the month from May to August. It is full of anecdote, and 

full of interest; and is a sort of literary natural history, like that of Selbourne. 

by good Gilbert White. The observations, the reading, the meditations of & 

well-trained, well-filled mind, give this volume its charm, and make it one 

which even the best-informed reader may wile away an hour with in recalling 

his own wanderings in the literary fields. The great glory of this book is that 

it is thoroughly natural. It does not aim at fine writing or sensational 

stories, but jots down from day to day such memoranda as a well-stored mind, 

familiar with the great treasures of our literature, would give forth in the quiet 

of a country parsonage, when summer smiled over the fields and woods, and a 

garden gave forth its pleasant sights and sounds. — Birmingham Journal. 

WORSAAE'S (J. J. A., of Copenhagen) Primeval Antiquities of Den- 
mark, translated and applied to the illustration of similar re- 
mains in England, by W. J. Thorns, F.S.A. 8vo, many engrav- 
ings, cloth. 4s 6d (original price 10s 6d) 

WRIGHT'S (Thomas, M.A., F.S.A., Member of the Inststute of 
France) Essay on Archaeological Subjects, and on various 
Questions connected with the History of Art, Science, and 
Literature in the Middle Ages. 2 vols, post 8vo, printed by 
Whittingham, illustrated with 120 engravings, cloth. 16s 

Contexts : — 1. On the Remains of a Primitive People in the South-East 
corner of "Yorkshire. 2. On some ancient Barrows, or Tumuli, opened in East 
Yorkshire. 3. On some curious forms of Sepulchral Interment found in East 
Yorkshire. 4. Treago, and the large Tumulus at St. Weonard's. 5. On the 
Ethnology of South Britain at the period of the Extinction of the Roman 
Government in the Island. 6. On the Origin of the Welsh. 7. On the Anglo- 
Saxon Antiquities, with a particular reference to the Fausset Collection. 8. 
On the True Character of the Biographer Asser. 9. Anglo-Saxon Architecture, 
illustrated from illuminated Manuscripts. 10. On the Literary History of 
Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Britons, and of the Romantic Cycle of 
King- Arthur. 11. On Saints' Lives and Miracles. 12. On Antiquarian Exca- 
vations and Researches in the Middle Ages. 13. On the Ancient Map of the 
World preserved in Hereford Cathedral, as illustrative of the History of 
Geography in the Middle Ages. 14. On the History of the English Language. 
15. On the Abacus, or Mediaeval System of Arithmetic. 16. On the Antiquity 
of Dates expressed in Arabic Numerals. 17. Remarks on an Ivory Casket of 
the beginning of the Fourteenth Century. 18. On the Carvings on the Stalls in 
Cathedral and Collegiate Churches. 19. Illustrations of some Questions relating 
to Architectural Antiquities— (a) Mediaeval Architecture illustrated from Illu- 
minated Manuscripts : (b) A Word more on Mediaeval Bridge Builders : (c) On 
the Remains of proscribed Races in Mediaeval and Modern Society, as explaining 
certain peculiarities in Old Churches. 20. On the Origin of Rhymes in Medi- 
aeval Poetry, and its bearing on the Authencity of the Early Welsh Poems. 21. 
On the History of the Drama in the Middle Ages. 22. On the Literature of the 
Troubadours. 23. On the History of Comic Literature during the Middle Ages. 
24. On the Satirical Literature of the Reformation. 

"Mr. Wright is a man who thinks for himself, and one who has evidently a 
title to do so. Some of the opinions published in these Essays are, he tells us, 
the result of his own observations or reflections, and are contrary to what have 
long been those of our own antiquaries and historians." — Spectator. 

" Two volumes exceedingly valuable and important to all who are interested 
In the Archaeology of the Middle Ages ; no mere compilations, but replete with 
fine reasoning, new theories, and useful information, put in an intelligible 
manner on subjects that have been hitherto but imperfectly understood."— 
London Rev. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 53 

WRIGHT (Thomas) Essays on the Literature, Popular Superstitions, 

and History of England in the Middle Ages. 2 vols, post 8vo, 

elegantly printed, cloth. 16s 

Contents :— Essay 1. Anglo-Saxon Poetry— 2. Anglo-Norman Poetry — 3. 

Chansons de Geste, or historical romances of the Middle Ages — 4. Proverbs 

and Popular Sayings — 5. Anglo-Latin Poets of the Twelth Century— 6. Abelard 

and the Scholastic Philosophy— 7. Dr. Grimm's German Mythology— 8. National 

Fairy Mythology of England — 9. Popular Superstitions of Modern Greece, and 

their connection with the English — 10. Friar Rush and the Frolicsome Elves — ■ 

11. Dunlop's History of Fiction — 12. History and Transmission of Popular 

Stories— 13. Poetry of History— 14. Adventures of Hereward the Saxon— 15. 

Story of Eustace the Monk— 16. History of Fulke Fitzwarine— 17. Popular 

Cycle or Robin Hood Ballads— 18. Conquest of Ireland by the Anglo-Normans 

—19. Old English Political Songs— 20. Dunbar, the Scottish Poet. 

WRIGHT (Thomas) Biographia Britannica Literaria, or Biography of 
Literary Characters of Great Britain and Ireland. Anglo- 
Saxon Pekiod. Thick 8vo, cloth. 6s {original price 12s) 

The Anglo-Norman Period. Thick 8vo, cloth, 6s (original 

price 12s) 
Published under the superintendence of the Council of the Royal Society of 
Literature. 

There is no work in the English Language which gives the reader such a com- 
prehensive and connected History of the Literature of these periods. 

WRIGHT (Thomas) Wanderings of an Antiquary, chiefly upon the 

Traces of the Romans in Britain, many illustrations, post 8vo, 

cloth. 4s 6d (original price 8s 6d.) 
WRIGHT'S (Thomas) Saint Patrick's Purgatory, an Essay on the 

Legends of Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, current during the 

Middle Ages. Post 8vo, cloth. 6s 
" It must be observed that this is not a mere account of St. Patrick's 
Purgatory, but a complete history of the legends and superstitions relating to 
the subject, from the earliest times, rescued from old MSS. as well as from old 
printed books. Moreover, it embraces a singular chapter of literary history 
omitted by Warton and all former writers with whom we are acquainted : and 
we think we may add, that it forms the best introduction to Dante that has yet 
been published." — Literary Gazette. 

" This appears to be a curious and even amusing book on the singular subject 
of Purgatory, in which the idle and fearful dreams of superstition are shown to 
be first narrated as tales, and then applied as means of deducing the moral cha- 
racter of the age in which they prevailed." — Spectator. 

WRIGHT'S (Thomas) Anecdota Literaria, a Collection of Short 
Poems in English, Latin, and French, illustrative of the Litera- 
ture and History of England in the XIHth Century, and more 
especially of the Condition and Manners of the Different Classes 
of Society. 8vo, cloth, only 250 copies printed. 5s 
WROXETER. The Roman City of Uriconium at Wroxetcr, Salop ; 
illustrative of the History and Social Life of our Romano- 
British forefathers. By J. Corbet Anderson. A handsome 
volume, post 8vo, with numerous cuts drawn on wood from the 
actual objects by the author, extra cloth. 12s 6d 
YORKSHIRE.— The History of the Township of Meltham, near 
Huddersfield, by the late Rev. Joseph Hughes, edited with 
addition by C. H. Post 8vo, cloth. 7s 6d 
Several other book* relating to Yorkshire, are interspersed through this Catal- 
ogue. 



64 BOOKS PUBLISHED AND SOLD B7 

ADDENDA. 

TWAMLEY'S (C.) Historical and Descriptive Account of Dudley 
Castle in Staffordshire. Post 8vo, cloth. 4s 

SCOTT (Henry, Minister of Anstruther Wester). Fasti-Ecclesice Scoti- 
canoe ; the Sucession of Ministers to the Parish Churches of Scot- 
land, from the Reformation, A.D. 1560, to the present time. 
Parti. Synod of Lothian and Tweedale. 4to, pp. 400. cl. £1. 10a 
To be completed in 3 parts — the second is now ia the Printer's hands. 
" The design of the present work is to present a comprehensive account of 
the Succession of Ministeks of the Church of Scotland, since the period of the 
Beformation. An attempt is made to give some additional interest by furnish- 
ing incidental notices of their lives, writings, and families, which may prove 
useful to the Biographer, the Genealogist, and the Historian. 

"The sources from which the work has been compiled are the various 
records of Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies . to- 
gether with the Books of Assignations, Presentations to Benefices, and the 
Commissariat Begisters of Confirmed Testaments. From these authentic 
sources the information here collected will, it is believed, be found as accurate 
as the utmost care can render it. Having been commenced at an early period 
of life, this work has been prosecuted during all the time that could be spared 
from professional engagements for a period of nearly fifty years. 

" Some idea of the labour and continuous research involved in preparing 
the work may be formed, when the Author states, that he has visited all the 
Presbyteries in the Church, and about seven hundred and sixty different Pa- 
rishes, for the purpose of examining the existing records. In this way he has 
had an opportunity of searching eight hundred and sixty volumes of Presbytery, 
and one hundred volumes of Synod Becords, besides those of the Gr neral As- 
sembly, along with the early Begisters of Assignations and Presentations to 
Benefices, and about four hundred and thirty volumes of the Testament Begisters 
in the different Commissariats." — Extract from Preface. 

RECORDS of the Convention of the Royal Burghs of Scotland, with 
extracts from other Records relating to the affairs of the Burghs 
of Scotland, 1295-1597, edited by J. D. Marwick. 4to, pp. 600, 
cloth, only 150 printed for sale. £1. 10s 

PASSAGES from the Autobiography of a "Man of Kent," toge- 
ther with a few rough Pan and Ink Sketches by the same hand 
of some of the people he has met, the changes he has seen, and 
the places he has visited, 1817-1865. Thick post 8vo. Cloth. 5s. 
KENRICK (Rev. John, Curator of Antiquities in the Museum at 
York, author of "Ancient Egypt under the Pharaohs," "History 
of Phoenicia," &c.) Papers on subjects of Archaeology and His- 
tory communicated to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. 8vo, 
cloth. 3s 6d. (Original price 9s.) 
Contents. 
The Bise, Extension, and Suppression of the Order of Knights Templar in 

Yorkshire. . 

Historical Traditions of Pontefract Castle, including an Enquiry into the Place? 

and manner of Bichard the Second's Death. 
Belation of Coins to History, illustrated from Boman Coins found at Metha], 

in Yorkshire. 
The Causes of the Destruction of Classical Literature. 
The History of the Becovery of Classical Literature. 

The Beign of Trajan, illustrated by a monument of his reign found at York. 
Boman Wax Tablets found in Transylvania 
New Year's Day ia Ancient Borne. 



JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 55 

HISTORY of the Hebrew Nation and its Literature. By Samuel 
Sharpe, author of the History of Ancient Egypt, &c. Post 
8vo, cloth. 5s 

TEXTS from the Holy Bible explained by the Help of Ancient 
Monuments. By Samuel Sharpe, Author of the History of 
Egypt and other works. Post 8vo, with 160 drawings on 
wood, chiefly by Joseph Bonomi, Curator of Soane's Museum. 
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ON THE Chronology of the Bible. By Samuel Sharpe, Author 
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